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diff --git a/44030-8.txt b/44030-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 4ee214d..0000000 --- a/44030-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3777 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Our Little Danish Cousin, by Luna May Innes - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Our Little Danish Cousin - -Author: Luna May Innes - -Illustrator: Elizabeth Otis - -Release Date: October 25, 2013 [EBook #44030] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR LITTLE DANISH COUSIN *** - - - - -Produced by Emmy, Beth Baran and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - -Our Little Danish Cousin - - - - -THE - -Little Cousin Series - -(TRADE MARK) - - Each volume illustrated with six or more full page plates in - tint. Cloth, 12mo, with decorative cover - per volume, 60 cents - - -LIST OF TITLES - - BY MARY HAZELTON WADE, MARY F. - NIXON-ROULET, BLANCHE MCMANUS, - CLARA V. WINLOW, FLORENCE E. - MENDEL AND OTHERS - - =Our Little African Cousin= - =Our Little Alaskan Cousin= - =Our Little Arabian Cousin= - =Our Little Argentine Cousin= - =Our Little Armenian Cousin= - =Our Little Australian Cousin= - =Our Little Austrian Cousin= - =Our Little Belgian Cousin= - =Our Little Bohemian Cousin= - =Our Little Boer Cousin= - =Our Little Brazilian Cousin= - =Our Little Bulgarian Cousin= - =Our Little Canadian Cousin= - =Our Little Chinese Cousin= - =Our Little Cossack Cousin= - =Our Little Cuban Cousin= - =Our Little Danish Cousin= - =Our Little Dutch Cousin= - =Our Little Egyptian Cousin= - =Our Little English Cousin= - =Our Little Eskimo Cousin= - =Our Little French Cousin= - =Our Little German Cousin= - =Our Little Grecian Cousin= - =Our Little Hawaiian Cousin= - =Our Little Hindu Cousin= - =Our Little Hungarian Cousin= - =Our Little Indian Cousin= - =Our Little Irish Cousin= - =Our Little Italian Cousin= - =Our Little Japanese Cousin= - =Our Little Jewish Cousin= - =Our Little Korean Cousin= - =Our Little Malayan (Brown) Cousin= - =Our Little Mexican Cousin= - =Our Little Norwegian Cousin= - =Our Little Panama Cousin= - =Our Little Persian Cousin= - =Our Little Philippine Cousin= - =Our Little Polish Cousin= - =Our Little Porto Rican Cousin= - =Our Little Portuguese Cousin= - =Our Little Russian Cousin= - =Our Little Scotch Cousin= - =Our Little Servian Cousin= - =Our Little Siamese Cousin= - =Our Little Spanish Cousin= - =Our Little Swedish Cousin= - =Our Little Swiss Cousin= - =Our Little Turkish Cousin= - - - THE PAGE COMPANY - 53 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass. - -[Illustration: "LITTLE CHILDREN WERE PLAYING ABOUT THE STATUED FORM OF -THEIR BELOVED STORY-TELLER, HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN" - -(_see page 52_)] - - - - -OUR LITTLE DANISH COUSIN - - By - Luna May Innes - - Illustrated by - Elizabeth Otis - -[Illustration] - - Boston - THE PAGE COMPANY - PUBLISHERS - - - - - _Copyright, 1912_, - BY L. C. PAGE & COMPANY - (INCORPORATED) - - _All rights reserved_ - - - First Impression, June, 1912 - Second Impression, January, 1917 - - - - - TO MY LITTLE NEPHEW - - =Graeme Lorimer= - - ON HIS NINTH BIRTHDAY - - - - -Preface - - -DENMARK means "Land of dark woods." Although one of the smallest states -of Europe, the little kingdom of Denmark holds a very large place in -the world's history, having supplied rulers for many of the countries -of Europe. - -The Dane loves his beautiful country, the land of Thorvaldsen and of -Hans Christian Andersen, of blue lakes, and "fairy-tale" castles. - -Since the days of Leif and Biarne, Denmark and the United States have -been allied, and therefore I feel sure that the children of America -will be interested in the story of their little Danish Cousin. - -I wish to express grateful acknowledgment to Hr. Georg Beck, Consul for -Denmark in Chicago; also to Mr. Haakon Arntz, and to Mr. and Mrs. Oscar -Andersen, for generous information given in regard to the manners and -customs of the Danish people. - - LUNA MAY INNES. - - CHICAGO, _February, 1912_. - - - - -Contents - - - CHAPTER PAGE - PREFACE vii - I. THE DISTINGUISHED VISITOR 1 - II. COPENHAGEN 22 - III. "HURRAH FOR KING FREDERIK!" 48 - IV. UP THE SOUND TO HAMLET'S CASTLE 59 - V. "FAIRY-TALE" CASTLES AND PALACES 73 - VI. THE LEGEND OF THE SACRED "DANNEBROG" 82 - VII. THE STORY OF THE DANISH "AHLHEDE" 100 - VIII. SKAGEN 117 - IX. A DANISH PEASANT WEDDING 134 - X. JUL-TIDE AT GRANDMOTHER INGEMANN'S 144 - - - - -List of Illustrations - - - PAGE - "LITTLE CHILDREN WERE PLAYING ABOUT THE STATUED FORM - OF THEIR BELOVED STORY-TELLER, HANS CHRISTIAN - ANDERSEN" (_see page 52_) _Frontispiece_ - "VALDEMAR BURST INTO THE ROOM" 13 - "WHERE JOLLY-LOOKING WOMEN WITH QUAINT HEADDRESSES - WERE SELLING THEIR WARES" 35 - "THEY SPREAD THEM ON THE GRASS IN THE SHADOW OF THE - GREAT BRICK TOWER" 90 - "IN THE CENTRE OF THE STUDIO STOOD THE UNFINISHED - STATUE OF THE LITTLE CROWN PRINCE" 119 - "'WELCOME! AND _GLAEDELIG JUL!_' CALLED OUT BOTH - GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER INGEMANN" 145 - -[Illustration: Map of DENMARK] - - - - -Our Little Danish Cousin - - - - -CHAPTER I - -THE DISTINGUISHED VISITOR - - -"HURTIG! _kaere Karen, mit lommetørklæde!_" - -Fru Oberstinde Ingemann and her little flaxen-haired daughter, Karen, -were sitting at their embroidery work in the deep window-seat that -made one whole side of the cozy Ingemann living-room overlooking the -Botanical Gardens. Between stitches, Karen was watching the rain patter -on the little diamond window-panes, now and then pausing to take a -quick look at some favorite newly-blossomed flower in the brilliant, -long line of window-boxes which bordered the windows "like a long -bright ribbon," as Karen said. - -The bell rang. - -"_Hurtig! kaere Karen, mit lommetorklaede!_" sounds like something -terrible, but Fru Ingemann was only saying in Danish: "Quick, dear -Karen, my handkerchief!" - -"Thank you, Karen," said the lady, as the fair child replaced the sheer -bit of linen in her mother's hand with a pretty courtesy, for Karen was -a well-bred little girl. - -It was a morning of excitement for Fru Else Ingemann. Two important -letters had come to her from over the seas. One had come from Chicago -in far-away America, saying that her brother-in-law, the Hon. Oscar -Hoffman, was coming once more to pay a visit to dear old Denmark. -Mr. Hoffman was an important man in America. He was the president of -the "Danish-American National Park" in north Jutland, and it was in -his loyal Danish brain that the whole idea of the great Park had -originated. It had been his dream to save to the glory of Denmark, -for all time to come, a wonderful, wild tract of heather-covered -hills where, year by year, thousands of loyal Danish-Americans might -meet in the Fatherland, and celebrate America's Independence Day on -Danish soil. At last the Park was a reality, and he was coming to make -necessary arrangements. - -He was bringing his son, Karl, with him, and, while they were to be in -Copenhagen, they would spend their time with the Ingemanns. He hoped -that the little cousins would become great friends. They would arrive -in Copenhagen on Saturday. To-day was Thursday. - -The other exciting message came from Fru Ingemann's favorite brother, -Hr. Thorvald Svensen. It was postmarked Rome, Italy, and informed -her that at last he was coming back to live in his dear old home in -Copenhagen, and that he would arrive on that day. - -Hr. Svensen had been living in Rome for eight long years, and in those -years of persistent, hard work he had finally realized his one great -ambition, and become Denmark's greatest sculptor--greatest, at least, -since the day of Denmark's beloved Thorvaldsen, whose namesake he was. - -To Fru Ingemann there was no more welcome news in all the world. His -letter said that he longed to see her and the children once more. - -Little Valdemar, who was the sculptor's godson, was wild with joy. "Let -me stay home from school to-day, mother!" he implored. - -"No, no, Valdemar," firmly answered his mother, as she handed him his -school luncheon, a box of delicious _smörrebröd_.[1] When Valdemar's -mother said "No, no," he knew that further protests were useless. So -he kissed her and was off, calling back: "Good-bye, mother dear; keep -_Gudfar_[2] Thor until I come home from school, _please_!" - -All that morning Fru Ingemann flew about in happy expectancy, making -more cozy the pretty little apartment. Karen could hear her mother, as -she worked, singing softly those familiar old lines from Baggesen, the -well-known Danish poet: - - "Ah, nowhere is the rose so red, - Nowhere so small the thorn, - Nowhere so soft the downy bed - As those where we were born." - -Above the patter of the rain came the sound of approaching carriage -wheels. Fru Ingemann paused. - -"Quick, Karen,--the bell! It may be Uncle Thor!" - -And so it proved! All the eight, long, lonesome years since she had -last seen this dear brother, years in which she had lost her husband, -were quickly forgotten in his great hearty embrace. - -"_Min kaere Soster!_" - -"_Min kaere Broder!_" - -Their hearts were so full they could not find words. - -Karen, tiptoeing, wanted to fling her tiny arms about her big, -yellow-bearded, Viking-like, Uncle Thor's neck, so he lifted the little -maid high in his strong arms and kissed her. - -"Ah, Karen, _min lille skat_![3] How you have grown!" he said -affectionately. Soft yellow curls framed her pretty face, and two heavy -braids of the same glorious hair hung far down her back. "Why, you were -just a little, two-year-old baby when I went away to Rome, and now, -I've no doubt, you are dreaming of a boarding-school off in France or -Switzerland one of these days!" - -But Karen only shook her little blond head and laughed, while Uncle -Thor's beauty-loving eye beamed on the dainty little damsel in white -embroidered frock, half-hose and slippers, as he settled himself -comfortably in the big arm-chair near the great, green-tiled stove, -whose top almost touched the living-room ceiling. - -"Congratulations, dear brother," said Fru Ingemann. "Why didn't you -write us all about the great honor you have brought to the family? -I saw in this morning's 'Nationaltidende,' that you have just been -appointed Court Painter to His Majesty, the King! It is the greatest -honor that can come to a Danish artist. I am so proud of you!" - -"It is true," he acknowledged, briefly, "but tell me, sister Else, how -are the boys, Aage and Valdemar?" - -"Oh, Aage is now a big boy of sixteen, off doing his eight years of -compulsory military service in the army. Aage will grow up with a -straighter back and a better trained body because of his soldiering -days. He will be home for Christmas with us." - -"And Valdemar?" - -"Valdemar is only thirteen, but he is in his second year at the -Metropolitan School, one of the best State Latin Schools in all -Denmark. He will be back home at three o'clock. I could hardly get him -to consent to go to school at all, this morning, after he was told that -his Gudfar Thor was coming." - -"And Karen studies with her private tutors, here, at home?" - -"Yes, Thorvald, besides learning to be a good little housekeeper, -as well. But you must be both hungry and tired. It is nearly twelve -o'clock. Come, Karen, help me spread the table with something good for -_Frokost_,[4] for Uncle Thor." - -A cloth of snowy damask was quickly spread with various viands and -meats; tongue, salad, salmon, anchovies, plates of butter, with trays -containing French (white) bread, and other trays full of thin slices -of rye bread, which is such a favorite with all Danes. Fru Ingemann -then placed a bottle of beer beside Hr. Svensen's plate, and brought -in the steaming hot tea, which she herself poured into the delicate -cups of that wonderful crystalline ware, the famous Royal Copenhagen -porcelain--a set doubly cherished by her as an heirloom in her family -for many generations. - -Karen, who could herself make delicious tea, loved to gaze at the -fascinatingly delicate decoration of the cups, which looked, as she -said, "like frost on the window-pane;" but she never was allowed to -touch this precious set of old Royal Copenhagen, of which not one piece -had yet been broken. - -"And _smörrebröd_, brother?" politely urged Fru Ingemann, for no good -Danish housewife would ever think of inviting any one to breakfast -without having _smörrebröd_ on the table. - -"Thanks, sister Else," replied the hungry artist, who immediately set -about thickly spreading butter--famous Danish butter--over a slice -of rye bread, as did also Karen and her mother, after which each -proceeded to select the particular kind of fish or meat preferred, and, -arranging it upon the slice of buttered bread, ate it much as we would -a sandwich. Uncle Thor made an especially delicious one for Karen, who -had already become a great favorite with him. - -_Frokost_ over, Fru Ingemann arose, and, bowing slightly to her -brother, said: "_Velbekomme!_"[5] And Hr. Svensen did the same. - -"_Tak for Mad, Moder_,"[6] said Karen courtesying first to her mother -and then to her Uncle Thor, and kissing them both--a beautiful old -Danish custom. - -Uncle Thor was a great lover of flowers. To-day there were beautiful -flowers on the table, in the windows, everywhere! In fact, the whole -Ingemann apartment seemed overwhelmed with the loveliness of them. -Besides the vases, there were little flower-pots galore, all decked in -brightly-colored paper, some containing blooming plants, others, little -growing trees. - -"Ah, Karen, has there been a birthday here?" asked Uncle Thor, in mock -surprise. "Run out in the hall and see what came all the way from -Naples, Italy, to Frederiksberg-Alle, in Copenhagen, for a good little -girl with long pigtails." - -Karen came running back with a tiny white kid box in her hand. Opening -it, she beheld the most beautiful set imaginable of pale pink corals. -She just couldn't wait to put the necklace on before hugging her dear -old Uncle Thor, who himself had to fasten the pretty chain around her -slender little neck for her. - -"Yes, Uncle Thor, we had a splendid time, and mother gave us chocolate, -tea and cakes, and this is what all the boys and girls at my party -yesterday sang: - - "'London Bridge is broken down, - Gold is won and bright renown, - Shields resounding, war-horns sounding, - Hild is shouting in the din, - Arrows singing, - Mailcoats ringing, - Odin makes our Olaf win.'" - -Karen had hardly finished singing her song describing the days of old, -when there had been a mighty encounter on London Bridge between the -Danes and King Olaf the Saint, ending in the burning of the bridge, -when there came a sudden great clatter and uproar on the stairs, with -the loud barking of a dog, and the sound of a boy's heavy boots, and -Valdemar burst into the room. - -[Illustration: "VALDEMAR BURST INTO THE ROOM"] - -"Oh, my dear, dear Gudfar Thor!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms tight -round his uncle's neck. - -"Why, Valdemar, you are the very image of your father!" exclaimed Hr. -Svensen. "Don't you think so, sister Else?" he questioned, as he gazed -admiringly at the sturdy, big frame, rumpled flaxen hair, and the merry -twinkle in the honest blue Danish eyes of his godson. - -"Oh, yes, Thorvald, Valdemar certainly is the image of his father. The -King thinks so, too," agreed Fru Ingemann. - -"King Frederik? Why, how is that, sister? Has the king never forgotten -Valdemar?" questioned Hr. Svensen in surprise. - -"Oh, Thorvald, you know the King's wonderful memory. It never fails -him. And you must remember the great friendship that always existed -between my dear husband and King Frederik, from the days when, as boys -together, they went through the Military College; and later both were -recruits in the same regiment, and had to do sentry duty, turn about, -outside his grandfather's palace. Only the other day, Valdemar came -bounding into the house, overjoyed, to tell me that he had just passed -their Majesties, King Frederik and Queen Lowisa, out walking on the -_Langelinie_,[7] entirely unattended, and that, when he doffed his -cap to the King, his Majesty immediately returned his salute, with a -friendly smile!" - -"But, sister Else, how do you _know_ that King Frederik thinks Valdemar -the image of his father? I don't understand," persisted Hr. Svensen, -perplexed. - -"We know!" Fru Ingemann spoke softly as she. - -"Valdemar was only a little child when his father died," she -continued. "His father had always taught Valdemar to love the King, and -he does so with all his boyish little heart. An accident, a broken arm, -soon afterwards put the child in the Queen Lowisa Children's Hospital, -where, as you know, King Frederik makes a monthly visit to cheer the -little sufferers. The King loves children. They say that not one -little baby-face ever escapes him, and that he even notes each child's -improvement from time to time. - -"Valdemar, in his little cot near the door, heard the nurses saying: -'The King comes to-day!' - -"His little mind was all expectation. Finally, the King arrived. -Valdemar was the first little patient to see him enter, silk hat in his -hand as usual. Sick as he was, the boy drew himself quickly from out -of the covers, stood up in the middle of his bed, and saluted his King -with a low bow, so low that his forehead almost touched his pillow. -The King paused in surprise at Valdemar's cot and spoke: - -"'My child, why do you do that? Why do you salute me?' - -"'Because I like you! You are the King!' - -"They say that the King looked into the child's face a moment, drew -his hand to his eyes, lost in thought, then, turning quickly to Prince -Christian, who accompanied him, exclaimed with a smile: - -"'_Du ligner din Fader! Oh, vilde jeg onske at din Fader levede! Gid -Legligheden maa komme til at hjälpe denne opvagte Dreng, for min käre -gamle Ven Ingemann's Skyld!_'[8] - -"Then, placing his hand on the child's golden locks, he spoke tenderly: -'Yes, little Valdemar Ingemann, I am the King. Always remember that -your father and I were great friends,' and he passed on. - -"Valdemar has never forgotten that moment. He never will. You and the -King are the two great heroes of the world in his eyes." - -"Where is he now? Come, Valdemar! Tell me all about what you like most -to read," called Uncle Thor. - -"Oh, Uncle Thor, I love to read in the old Sagas and Chronicles all -about the mighty sea-fights of the Vikings, and about the glorious -battles of the Valdemars, in the books that Aage left me. They make me -want to be a soldier. Then I love to read everything about Linnæus, who -loved the trees and the flowers and the whole outdoors just as I do. -But, best of all, I'd rather become a famous sculptor like my Godfather -Thor! I'd like that better than anything else in all the world! See, -Uncle Thor, I've modelled some little things already. Here is one,--my -Great Dane, Frederik,--and here is a stork, and here is a little -Viking ship. They're not very good, but--" - -"Oh, _min lille Billedhugger_!"[9] interrupted Hr. Svensen, with -feeling, as he took the little toy animals from Valdemar to examine -them. "This is not half bad work. But _what_ have you done them in, my -boy?" - -"In pie-paste!" laughed his mother. "I have to hide the pie-paste when -I'm baking, to keep Valdemar from slipping it off to use for modelling!" - -"Valdemar, you shall have some modelling clay. Thorvaldsen once made -the Lion of Lucerne in butter. I must tell you that story some day," -said Hr. Svensen, as he patted his little nephew's head affectionately. - -There was a sharp ring at the bell. - -Karen flew to the door, then back to her mother, excitedly exclaiming: -"A box and a letter for you, mother!" - -Fru Ingemann tore the note open and read: "Will be expelled if it -occurs again!" The words swam before her eyes. - -"Oh, Valdemar, my son, come explain all this to me at once! It is from -your Latin teacher. Surely there is some mistake. It is not like my -boy!" - -Meantime Karen had opened the box, and displayed a most laughable -clay caricature of Valdemar's Latin teacher, with the word "TEACHER" -scratched underneath in large letters. She burst out giggling. Even -Uncle Thor's look of mock horror soon gave way before the cleverly done -effigy, and he laughed. He had been a boy once himself, and it _was_ -funny. - -"Well, that's exactly the way teacher looks!" vehemently protested -Valdemar in self-justification. "Indeed he does. Ask Hendrik or any of -the boys. None of us like him one bit, and at recess to-day Hendrik -drew chalk cartoons of teacher all over the blackboard, and said: 'Oh, -Valdemar, you'd never dare do it in clay!' - -"'Yes, I _would_ dare do it in clay!' I answered him, and then, -mother,--I did it. But I didn't mean Hr. Professor Christiansen to see -it. I'm glad school's over for all summer on Friday!" - -Even Valdemar's mother had to laugh, as Uncle Thor took the offending -statuette in his hand to give it a closer examination, for it was as -irresistibly funny as it was clever. - -"Brilliant, Valdemar!" he exclaimed. "Your work has merit. Work hard -enough, my boy, and you may become a great artist, some day. You have -the talent. Come over to my studio to-morrow morning. I'll help you a -little with your modelling, and then, after luncheon with me, I will -take you through the Thorvaldsen Museum. Would you like that? And, by -the way, I think there is something nice for you in my trunk. Now I am -due at the Royal Palace. I must go and pay my respects to the King. He -will be expecting me." - -"Oh, Uncle Thor, I'll be there!" called out Valdemar. "Good-bye, Uncle -Thor, good-bye!" - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 1: The great Danish national dish.] - -[Footnote 2: Godfather.] - -[Footnote 3: "My little treasure."] - -[Footnote 4: Breakfast] - -[Footnote 5: "Well may it agree with you."] - -[Footnote 6: "Thank you for the food, mother."] - -[Footnote 7: Long Line.] - -[Footnote 8: "The face of his father! Oh, that his father were still -living! May the opportunity some day be given me to benefit this bright -boy, for my dear old friend Ingemann's sake!"] - -[Footnote 9: "My little sculptor."] - - - - -CHAPTER II - -COPENHAGEN - - -SUMMER bursts suddenly in Copenhagen. First, winter, with its deep -snows, its fogs and frosts and thaws; then a few days of showers -and a few of sunshine, _Blinkeveir_[10] the Danes call this showery -weather; and then, all at once, the bare trees throw out their tender -green foliage and the spring flowers burst into life! The long cold -winter is over. Even then, there sometimes come dense sea-mists which -envelop Denmark's capital, and only vanish with the sun's warm rays. So -Copenhageners have a popular weather saying: - - "'Monday's weather till mid-day is the week's weather till Friday, - Friday's weather is Sunday's weather, - Saturday has its own weather." - -Saturday's weather fortunately proved ideal, a rare June day. -Copenhagen's beautiful Public Gardens and Parks were all aglow with -fragrant, blossoming spring flowers. Valdemar's school was at last over. - -"Now to the woods!" he cried in joy. "And, mother dear, can't we -keep Cousin Karl all summer with us up at our country place on the -_Strandvej_,[11] while Uncle Oscar has to be away in Jutland attending -to that Park of his? But I should like to be there with him when they -have their big American Fourth of July celebration, and see them raise -their great Star Spangled Banner over our beloved flag! Wouldn't you, -Karl? I've heard about the American 'Fourth,' with the Stars and -Stripes waving everywhere, and of the army manoeuvres and big times -they have over there in the States on that historic day! But Denmark's -never had anything like it before, has she, Uncle Thor?" - -They were in Fru Ingemann's pretty dining-room having their twelve -o'clock little _frokost_ of tea and _smörrebröd_, this happy little -party of six, for the American relatives had arrived. - -Early that morning, Valdemar and his Uncle Thor had hurried to the dock -to meet the steamer, "and, but for Uncle Oscar's waving handkerchief, -and his good memory for faces, we might have missed them entirely," -explained Valdemar, who was delighted with this first acquaintance with -his new American cousin. - -With the first warm spring day, half of Copenhagen whitewashes her -town house windows against the sun's hot rays, and prepares to migrate -farther north, to the famous _Strandvej_, where soft breezes from the -blue Sound play all day over the broad sandy beach, and rustle through -the leaves of the beech-trees in the Deer Park near by. Rich and poor -alike own their own villas, country houses or little cottages, as the -case may be, and these thickly dot the beautiful east Sound Shore all -the way from Copenhagen to Elsinore, for great is the Dane's love of -_at ligger på Landet_.[12] - -Like all the rest, through wise and careful planning, Fru Ingemann had -her little country place on the beautiful east Shore, where each summer -Karen and Valdemar took long walks through the glorious beech-woods, -went swimming, boating and bathing, made their own flower-gardens and -dug in the ground to their hearts' content. By the end of each short, -happy summer, they were both as tanned and brown as the baskets of -beech-nuts they gathered and brought back with them for the winter. - -"We will have great times, if only Cousin Karl can come up for the -summer with us!" begged little Karen. - -"I'll think about it," was the only promise they could get out of Uncle -Oscar for the moment. "I'm sure Karl would like it, but I'm not ready -to decide anything just now." - -"If I'm not mistaken, the first thing Karl wants is to see some of -the sights of Copenhagen," said Hr. Svensen, as they were leaving the -breakfast table. "Suppose we all go together and give him a bird's-eye -view of Copenhagen and the Harbor from the top of the Round Tower! -How's that, Karl?" - -"Great! Can't we start right away?" said the little American, for Karl -was a typical little Chicago boy, eager-minded and anxious to take in -everything at once. - -"And the Thorvaldsen Museum, Uncle Thor? Can't we go back there again -to-day?" urged Valdemar, for the wondrous beauty of Thorvaldsen's -masterpieces still filled all his thoughts. On the way home from the -Museum, the previous day, he had listened to fascinating stories told -him by his godfather, stories about the "Lion of Lucerne," and about -the little peasant boy who loved art, and worked hard, and finally -became one of the world's greatest sculptors. Valdemar couldn't forget -Thorvaldsen's lovely "Guardian Angel," or his wonderful figure of -"Christ," with its bowed head and arms outstretched in benediction, or -the heavenly beauty of his "Angel of the Baptism kneeling at Christ's -feet." Never, thought Valdemar, had he seen anything half so beautiful -in all his life! Then, there were mighty gods and heroes, and graceful -nymphs. "And only think," continued Valdemar, "when Thorvaldsen was -just a little boy eleven years old,--three years less than I am--he -so loved his drawing and modelling that his father, who was a poor -Icelandic ship-builder and carver of figureheads, placed him in school -at the Academy of Arts, where he won prize after prize, not stopping -until he had gained even the great gold medal, together with the -travelling scholarship which took him to Italy to study. There he -worked hard day by day, from early dawn till dark without stopping. No -wonder the great Museum is completely filled with masterpieces from his -hand!" - -"Valdemar, my boy, you, too, shall enter as a student at the Academy -next fall, if your work during the summer continues to show the talent -and improvement that will justify my sending you. But that means you -must work hard. I leave next week for my summer studio up at Skagen, -but, until I go, you shall have a lesson each day, if you like, and -more lessons up there all summer long, if you will come, for there -is no little boy in all the world I would rather help than you, my -Valdemar." - -"Oh, Uncle Thor!" cried Valdemar, throwing his arms around his -godfather's neck, wild with joy. "I will begin to-morrow. And do you -really mean that I am to study at the Academy?" - -"Yes, my little artist," answered Hr. Svensen. "And now let us start -at once and see some of Copenhagen's sights." - -"And will Fru Oberstinde not accompany us?" politely inquired Mr. -Hoffman, of his sister-in-law. - -Danish wives and widows are given the same titles their husbands bear, -so that Fru Ingemann, who was the widow of a Colonel, or "Oberst," in -the King's army, was often addressed as "Oberstinde," or "Coloneless." - -"Not to-day, thank you. Karen and I will wait for you at home," said -Fru Ingemann, smiling as she observed the big book in her child's -hands. "You see what Karen is reading, Hans Christian Andersen's -fascinating '_Billedbog unden Billeder_.'[13] Be sure to be back in -time for dinner," she called as the party set off. - -"_God Dag_,"[14] said the tram conductor politely as they entered. -Karl smiled. Then he began to ask questions, for he had never -crossed the ocean before, and never before had he seen any city -like Copenhagen. Chicago certainly had its broad avenues, parks and -boulevards, great skyscrapers and fine buildings; but Chicago had never -dreamed of permitting its one great canal to run right up through the -city streets, among the office buildings and houses, with all its -shipping, launches and water-craft, as the Copenhagen canals all seemed -to do in the friendliest possible fashion. - -"Copenhagen must look much more like Amsterdam than like Athens, -father. I can't see why it is called the 'Athens of the North.' I don't -see any Greek-looking buildings here," protested Karl. - -"Yes," agreed Karl's father, who had once lived in Denmark long years -ago. "Copenhagen may look much more like Amsterdam, Karl; but, while -you will not see Greek buildings here, nevertheless the title of -'Athens' comes justly, not only because of Copenhagen's charming -position on the borders of the Sound at the entrance to the Baltic, -giving the city a great advantage commercially, and because of its -beautifully wooded environs, but particularly on account of its -splendid libraries, art galleries, museums and great university and -schools, which rank among the best to be found anywhere in Europe. -Before we reach the Round Tower we will doubtless get a view of some of -these." - -"_Fa' vel_,"[15] said the tram conductor, bowing pleasantly to them as -they got off at their destination. - -Karl laughed outright. "Dear me! In Chicago car conductors are given -prizes for politeness, but I must say, none of them have ever yet -reached the point of saying 'farewell' to you as you leave. I'm glad -they don't. Gee! We'd never get anywhere in Chicago if we stopped for -all that." - -"Half of Copenhagen seems to be out on the streets to-day," remarked -Mr. Hoffman, who had not been back to Denmark's beautiful capital -for so long that he had forgotten what a large city it was. "Look, I -believe that must be the New Picture Gallery, isn't it?" - -"You are right," replied Hr. Svensen. "Half the charm of Copenhagen -must be traced to her museums and rich art treasures. Shall we give the -boys a peep inside?" - -"Oh, yes!" exclaimed both boys at once, for Karl had pleasant memories -of Saturday afternoons he had spent studying all the fine exhibits in -the Museum of the Art Institute of Chicago. They had soon climbed the -broad granite steps, and were walking through the long corridors and -halls filled with great paintings, each bearing the artist's name on -the frame. - -"The New Picture Gallery affords a good opportunity for studying Danish -pictorial art, just as the New Glyptothek does for studying Danish -sculpture," said Hr. Svensen, as they were leaving. - -"What canal is that?" asked Karl. "It certainly is a pretty one, with -that beautiful promenade and park along one side." - -"Yes, that is Holmen's Canal, one of the finest in Copenhagen," -answered Hr. Svensen. It was full of ships and other water-craft. -"And that marble building which looks like an Etruscan tomb is the -Thorvaldsen Museum, one of the principal attractions of Copenhagen. We -shall have to take another day for that. But, just to please Valdemar, -we will spend a moment inside the church where Thorvaldsen's 'Christ,' -the 'Angel of the Baptism' and 'The Twelve Apostles' are all standing -in the places for which they were designed." - -"The Danes have accomplished much more in sculpture than in painting, -haven't they, Uncle Thor?" Valdemar asked. - -"Yes, you are quite right, Valdemar. Denmark, as yet, has produced no -painter to compare with Thorvaldsen." - -They paused a moment at the _New Raadhus-plads_, with its castellated -roof, and paved semicircle in front, and again, near by, at the New -City Hall. - -"What an attractive part of Copenhagen this is," remarked Karl, as -he observed the many broad, fine, well-kept _Pladser_,[16] with -their electric cars gliding noiselessly back and forth with American -celerity. "Copenhagen seems to me a much cleaner, prettier city than -Chicago, father. Don't you think so? But where are its beggars? We've -not yet seen one." - -Hr. Svensen was quick to answer that they were not likely to see one. -That Copenhagen, with a population of nearly five hundred thousand, -has a pauper element of less than three per cent. "For the Danes are -naturally a thrifty, industrious people, more than half of whom are -farmers, and many also go to sea in ships," explained Hr. Svensen. - -[Illustration: "WHERE JOLLY-LOOKING WOMEN WITH QUAINT HEADDRESSES WERE -SELLING THEIR WARES"] - -They took a tram down Stormgade over a bridge to the island of -Slotsholmen, with its famous Fruit and Flower Market, where -jolly-looking women with quaint headdresses were selling their wares; -then over another bridge into _Kongens Nytorv_, the King's New Market. - -"Here we are in a different world from that which we just left," said -Hr. Svensen. They had reached a large Square, a great centre of life -and bustle, from which thirteen busy streets radiated. Through the -trees in the centre of this great open space the statue of a king was -seen, and red omnibuses crept slowly along on each side of the tram -line. Here they saw the Royal Theatre, the famous Tivoli Gardens, and -the beautiful old Palace of Charlottenburg, close to an inlet of the -sea, which reached right into the Square with all its shipping, so -that masts and sails and shops and buildings took on the same friendly -aspect that they have in Holland. - -"But I don't see any 'skyscrapers,' Uncle Thor, like we have in -Chicago, sometimes twenty stories high! Where are they?" inquired the -little American. - -"In a moment or so, Karl, I will show you two 'skyscrapers' that will -amuse you!" said Hr. Svensen. "But, look! here is a lively scene for us -first." - -They were passing the Copenhagen fish-market, or _Gammelstrand_, as it -is called, where the fish are sold alive, after having been kept in -large perforated boxes in the canal. - -"Now look, Karl! how's that for a skyscraper?" - -They were looking at the tall tower of the _Bors_, or Exchange, one -hundred and fifty feet high, with its upper part formed by four great -dragons whose tails were so intertwined and twisted together, high -up in the air, that they gradually tapered to a point, like a spire -against the sky. - -Then there was another tower which interested Karl. It was on the -Church of Our Redeemer. Circled by a long spiral stairway of three -hundred and ninety-seven steps of gleaming brass, which wound round and -round and up and up to the very top of the sharp cone, this tower gave -the persevering climber a good panoramic view over Copenhagen. - -"But not so good a view as we can get from the top of the Round Tower," -said Hr. Svensen. "Here we are now." - -They were glad to quit the jostling crowds on the streets,--throngs -of busy shoppers, students in cap and gown, sightseers, and, to-day, -bright-coated soldiers at every turn. The soldiers were arriving in -Copenhagen by hundreds every day now, they were told, in order to -be ready, Monday morning, to welcome King Haakon of Norway, who was -expected to arrive by ship. - -"Oh, Uncle Thor, will you or Uncle Oscar not bring us down to the city, -Monday, and let us see King Haakon drive past?" cried out both boys at -once. - -"Yes, boys," said Mr. Hoffman, "I will be glad to bring you. I leave -for Jutland in the afternoon, Monday, and that will give me my last -chance to see a little more of Copenhagen." - -At last they were in the Round Tower, and felt themselves slowly -ascending. Up and up, and round and round and round on an inclined -plane, they went--past curious niches in the wall, containing ancient -monuments covered with Runic inscriptions; past a door leading to the -university library, with its valuable collection of rare Icelandic -manuscripts; slowly, on and on, until finally they reached the very -top with its observatory, once the home of the great astronomer, Tycho -Brahe. - -"Peter the Great once drove a coach and four to the top of this very -same tower," volunteered Karl. "I've read all about that at school in -Chicago. What a splendid view of the city we are having. It is all -spires, and red roofs and gables built stairway fashion, isn't it?" - -"And how beautiful and sparkling the waters of the harbor look, all -alive with ships, great and small," said Valdemar. "It certainly is a -splendid seaport!" - -Far away, the Baltic, blue as the Bay of Naples, shimmered in -the bright sunlight; and close at hand, at the various wharves, -merchantmen, with valuable cargoes from far countries, were loading and -unloading. It was a scene of busy life. The boys counted the flags of -many different nations. No wonder the city had been named Merchant's -Haven, or _Kjöbenhavn_. - -"What a good view of the coast of Sweden we get up here," said -Valdemar. "And north of us lies Elsinore, the scene of Hamlet's -tragedy. And, Karl, I'm sure that, on a clearer day, we could see -Rugen, the German island, where, one day long ago, the Kaiser sat on -the top of the cliff four hundred feet high, and watched the famous -sea-fight between the Swedes and the Danes. But I don't like to talk -about Germany. I'm glad that Aage is a soldier. Some day he will help -us get Schleswig back again!" said patriotic little Valdemar. "And, -only think, some of the geography books have even dared to call the -North Sea the German Ocean! Kiel Harbor, now bristling with German -war-ships, once belonged to Denmark, and so did the whole Baltic!" - -"Yes, and once the Danes were ruling half of England, Ireland, and -Scotland, and they even gained a foothold in Normandy," said little -Cousin Karl by way of consolation. - -"And the Germans once stood in terror of our great Vikings, who lorded -it over the seas in every direction!" added Valdemar, with growing -enthusiasm. "Their graves may be seen on both sides of the North Sea -to-day. And wasn't it here, Uncle Thor, when an unusually severe winter -had bridged the Baltic, that the Swedish king, Karl Gustav, led his -army, horse, foot and guns, over the frozen seas where no one had dared -to cross before, and finally took Copenhagen? But Denmark and Sweden -are at peace now." - -"I'm glad that they are," replied Karl, "and that Norway and Denmark -are, too, or we might not see King Haakon next Monday!" - -"Come!" said Uncle Thor. "Let us hurry home now, before we are late to -dinner. It is a wonderful old tower, having survived both fires and -bombardments. Once Copenhagen was fortified with a wall and a moat, for -Denmark's capital has passed through many vicissitudes, but in these -peaceful days they both have been turned into parks for the people." - -Dinner had been awaiting the hungry sightseers for some time when they -reached home. - -When they had all gathered about the dinner table, it was plain that -there was some great secret in the air. Fru Ingemann's face wore a -bright smile, in spite of the late dinner, and little Karen held -herself with an air of supreme importance, her cheeks bright, and her -blue eyes dancing with suppressed excitement. - -"Great news, Brother Thorvald!" began Fru Ingemann, handing him a great -white envelope bearing the arms of His Majesty, King Frederik. "When -Karen and I were quietly studying the recipe book, and thinking of -the dinner far more than of kings, the bell rang sharply, and, lo and -behold! there stood the King's royal _Jaeger_[17]--in green uniform, -three-cornered hat and all--inquiring for you, brother! - -"'His Majesty, the King, sends this message to Hr. Professor Svensen,' -he said with a gracious bow, and, again bowing low, departed. Karen -and I, as you can well imagine, have been guessing everything possible -and impossible ever since, and given up in despair, waiting for you to -explain it all to us yourself, Thorvald." - -By this time, Valdemar's and Karen's eyes were bulging wild with -curiosity, and even Mr. Hoffman's face showed extreme interest. What -could it be? - -"I am summoned to the Royal Palace Tuesday at eleven o'clock," -explained Hr. Svensen, "to begin immediate work upon a statue of His -Royal Highness, the Crown Prince Olaf of Norway, who has graciously -consented to give me a few sittings during his short visit in Denmark." - -When Uncle Thor had finished reading, he passed the great white -envelope, headed "Royal Palace," with its interesting contents, over to -his sister and the children. Never before had the King's _Jaeger_ come -to Fru Ingemann's little apartment out on Frederiksberg-Alle! - -Valdemar was the first to speak. - -"Oh, Uncle Thor! I wonder if dear little Prince Olaf will pose with his -beautiful big dog! He is never without him, you know. And oh, _dear_! -Uncle Thor, can't you take me along with you to mix your clay--keep it -damp for you, and just do lots of things you'd like done? I want to go -with you so much, Uncle Thor, to watch you work! I know I could help -you ever so much, if _only_ you would just take me!" urged the little -embryo sculptor of the now great one. - -"My dear little Valdemar," said Uncle Thor with much tenderness in his -voice, "you are very welcome to go with me to the Royal Palace 'to -watch me work.' But, first, I want to watch _you_ work. Watching me -will not do you much good, my little artist, until _you_ have done more -work, yourself! This summons may delay my leaving for my summer studio, -up at Skagen, until the end of the week, and I am willing to give half -of every day, until I go, to teaching you. Now try to have some work -ready to show me by to-morrow. I will bring you more modelling clay -when you have used up what you have here. In fact, I will bring you -some of my own tools, and some casts for you to use as studies. Perhaps -I can fit up a real little studio right here in your own home for you. -I want to see what talent you have, Valdemar." - -"Oh, brother, how very good of you!" exclaimed Fru Ingemann. "Valdemar -must work very hard. He has talent, I feel sure." - -They had all finished their soup, a kind of very sweet gruel with -vegetables, and a dish of ham was then placed before Fru Ingemann, who -carved it, and passed around the slices, beginning with her nearest -guest. Fish, preserves, and stewed fruits were served with it. Then -followed _Rod-grod_, a kind of jelly to which the juice of different -fruits had been added, tea and coffee, and the little dinner ended -with the same ceremony as breakfast. Karl tried to suppress a smile -as Valdemar and little Karen courtesied to their mother and uncles, -as they said politely: "Thank you for the food," and went around and -kissed them. - -"My son," said Karl's father, reprovingly, "I like these beautiful old -Danish customs. I only wish you and all our little American boys and -girls had more of this feeling of gratitude." - -"Come, Karl," called Valdemar, "and see my beautiful Della Robbia -'Singing Boys,' that Uncle Thor brought to me all the way from Italy!" - -As the boys disappeared, the two men withdrew to the smoking-room for -a chat over their cigars, while Fru Ingemann busied herself assembling -all the "birthday flowers" into the front window overlooking the -avenue, according to an old-time custom in Copenhagen. Then she tucked -little Karen snugly in bed with a great pillow propped up against her -feet to keep the drafts off, for the early June day had grown suddenly -cooler towards night. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 10: Blinking weather.] - -[Footnote 11: Sea-side.] - -[Footnote 12: Lingering in the country.] - -[Footnote 13: "Picture Book without Pictures."] - -[Footnote 14: Good day.] - -[Footnote 15: Farewell.] - -[Footnote 16: Squares.] - -[Footnote 17: Hunter, or Messenger.] - - - - -CHAPTER III - -"HURRAH FOR KING FREDERIK!" - - -"VALDEMAR, tell me! What is a real king like?" exclaimed Karl, as both -boys sprang quickly out of bed bright and early Monday morning. "Is -a real king something like a President, only he's all gorgeous with -flashing decorations, and a sword and helmet,--like the pictures of -Napoleon and the German Emperor?" - -"Karl, you must have been dreaming about kings! I can't tell you -whether a king is like a President or not, for I've never seen a -President," said Valdemar. "But I am sure of one thing, and that is -that our King isn't one bit like the German Emperor! King Frederik just -looks like the very best king Denmark ever had, and that is what he -really is!" - -"Oh, excuse me, Valdemar. I forgot that you don't love the Germans. But -does King Frederik come riding a great prancing charger with an arched -neck and--" - -"You'll soon enough see for yourself how the King looks, Karl. Oh, -there's Uncle Thor! Uncle Thor, how long before we can start?" cried -Valdemar, who was himself almost as excited over the prospect of seeing -two great kings at once, as was Karl. Valdemar had never seen King -Haakon of Norway, son of his own dear King, and, although Karl, who was -nearly twelve years old, had seen two Presidents, and gone once with -his father to the White House in Washington, he had never seen a real -live king in all his short life. - -"Oh, father dear!" he cried, "when _can_ we start? There! I think I -heard a bugle! Oh, do let's go!" - -"We will start before very long, Karl, but not until you boys have had -your tea and bread. And, if I'm not mistaken, I heard Valdemar's uncle -say that he was to have a good lesson in drawing this morning. King -Haakon's ship does not arrive in Copenhagen harbor before almost noon, -so there will be plenty of time." - -"Yes, I do want my lesson!" said Valdemar, as they finished their cups -of hot tea. "I'm ready, Uncle Thor," he called out, as he saw his uncle -passing. - -Valdemar was in a very happy frame of mind this fine June morning, for -his uncle had praised his work of the day before. Valdemar had modelled -a half life-sized figure of his Great Dane, Frederik, and, to his great -surprise, Uncle Thor had not only said that it was good, but had told -his mother that it undeniably showed evidence of real talent. Nothing -could please Valdemar more. - -Saturday's sightseeing had given them all a taste for more. -Fortunately, Karl had brought his bicycle with him from Chicago, and -so the two boys followed on their wheels, while Fru Ingemann took her -brother, Mr. Hoffman, and little Karen all in a carriage, and drove -the length of the beautiful Shore Road, called the _Langelinie_, or -Long Line,--Copenhagen's fashionable drive, that stretches for miles -along the sea. The place was gay with Sunday crowds,--walking, riding, -wheeling, driving,--all out enjoying the warm June sunshine, as well as -the bracing sea-breeze. - -When they reached the quaint old Citadel, they left the carriage and -strolled about the earthworks, viewing the monument made from the -guns of the wrecked _Dannebrog_, a ship fitly named after the Danish -flag. Promenaders thronged the Shore Road at this point, gazing at the -shipping of all nations which here covered the Sound, and off into the -dim distance, at the shores of Sweden. - -Karl thought that his Aunt Else must have hosts of little friends, for -all the small boys bowed, and the little girls courtesied so prettily, -as she passed. But Fru Ingemann explained to him that it was only a -custom of all well-bred Danish children to bow and courtesy to their -elders, and then she told him how, every spring at _Paaske_, or Easter, -as we call it, this beautiful Shore Road is thronged all day long with -gay crowds all decked out in their _Paaske_ finery, as it is again -later at _Store Bededag_, or Great Praying Day, on the fourth Friday -after Easter. - -From here they drove out to the old Castle of Rosenborg, with its -fine garden where little children were playing about the statued-form -of their beloved story-teller, Hans Christian Andersen; and then -straight home again, passing, on their way, the royal residential -quarter, Amalienborg, which forms a great open Square, adorned with -the beautiful Marble Church, and, in the centre of the Square, with a -statue of King Frederik V. - -"Now we're off!" said Uncle Thor, as Valdemar finished a very good -drawing lesson, for Karl and his father, and Karen and her mother were -already waiting. - -At first the electric tram simply flew. But, as they approached the -down-town section of the city, its way was often blocked by the dense -crowds, who, like themselves, were coming to witness the arrival of -Copenhagen's honored royal guest, His Majesty, King Haakon of Norway. - -"Norroway-over-the-Foam, as it was once called," laughed Fru Ingemann, -"is a land of beauty which we must all visit some day. It is so many, -many times the size of our little Denmark that it makes us feel, by -comparison at least, a very small country indeed." - -"But Denmark occupies more space on the map than either Belgium or -Holland," said Valdemar. - -"And Denmark is nearly twice the size of Massachusetts," added Karl. -"But, oh! Just do look at the terrible crowds!--and right here is where -we get off! Father says 'Come!'" - -All at once they were thrust into the vast crowd. All Copenhagen seemed -suddenly to have poured by thousands forth into the streets, and the -flags of Norway and Denmark floated everywhere side by side. - -"If only we can make the opposite side of the street!" said Uncle Thor, -nervously looking about him in every direction, "we shall be safe, for -right up there, on the second floor of that building, is my friend's -office, from the window of which we are to view the royal procession. -Ah! we're safe now!" - -No sooner had they taken their positions in the large open window, than -they heard, in the distance, a cannon's loud report. It was followed by -a salute of guns and loud cheering. - -"There!" said both boys at once. "That means that King Haakon has -landed, and is now on his way here!" - -The cheering sounded nearer and nearer, and the cannon continued to -boom. - -"Forty guns!" said Valdemar, who had been counting. "Forty guns is -Denmark's royal salute. Karen dear, can you see?" - -"Yes, thank you, brother," said the child, whose feet were fairly -dancing with so much excitement. "But look! They are clearing the -street! The people are being made to keep back on the sidewalks. -Listen! That is our glorious old National Hymn that the splendid Royal -Guards are now playing. The King must be near! Listen, Karl! Oh, isn't -it all thrilling!" - -Nearer and nearer sounded the familiar strains. - -"It _is_ splendid, Karen," conceded Karl, "but I'd like the Star -Spangled Banner just as well, and, besides, I guess a king's no -bigger'n a President! Oh, look!" But it was only an advance guard of -mounted police. - -"I'm glad, mother, that our window has the largest flag in town flying -from it," said Valdemar. "I just _do_ hope the King will look up here -and see it! Listen! Now the people are beginning to cheer right down -here under our very window! And the men are doffing their hats!" - -"Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!" cheered the loyal thousands, as the -scarlet-coated King's Guard came in view. - -"Oh!" gasped Karen, with a long-drawn breath of delight. "Oh! isn't it -glorious! Hear the bugle! And here come the mounted Hussars with their -little red capes fastened on one shoulder, and swords flashing! How -splendidly they ride!" - -"Mother, I'm going to wave my own flag when the King's carriage -passes!" cried patriotic little Valdemar. "If King Frederik will only -look up! Don't you hope he will, Karl? Oh! there's his carriage now! -Yes, he sees my flag waving! He's looking! I'm going to cheer! Hurrah -for King Frederik!" - -The King heard and raised his head. His eyes fell directly upon -Valdemar's bright face, as had been the case that long ago day, in the -Children's Hospital. King Frederik smiled, bowed, and gave the lad a -military salute of recognition. King Haakon was seated beside King -Frederik, but Valdemar did not see him. In the following carriage were -the two queens, Queen Maud of Norway, and their own beloved Danish -Queen Lowisa, with little Crown Prince Olaf, of Norway, seated between -them; but Valdemar saw only King Frederik. - -"Mother! He _knew_ me!" cried Valdemar, as the brilliant procession -passed slowly out of sight, and the music, whose strains came faintly -back to them, had changed from Denmark's "Kong Christian" to the -Norwegian National Hymn in honor of King Haakon. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -UP THE SOUND TO HAMLET'S CASTLE - - -"MOTHER dear, how fine and cool the sea-breeze feels!" exclaimed -Valdemar, as the little Sound steamer puffed along over the bright -Baltic waves, past the big merchant-ships on the blue Sound, making -many stops on its way up towards historic old Elsinore, the spot made -famous by Shakespeare. - -Uncle Oscar had departed three days before, going directly to the -Jutland Park, to begin preparations for the entertaining of the -thousands of loyal Danish-American visitors, expected to arrive in time -for the Fourth celebration, and Fru Ingemann had given him her promise -to meet him there, with the three children, for that great event. - -For it had not taken Fru Ingemann long to decide that Uncle Oscar's -plan for the summer was best. Summer days are long, but few, in -Denmark,--the winters cold and stormy,--and Karen and Valdemar needed -the trip as much as did Karl, she told herself. So the little party -of four were already on their way north, to see for themselves all -the wonders and beauties of Jutland, of which Karl's father had been -telling them. - -Once Fru Ingemann had decided, the days fairly flew. Valdemar wanted to -start at once. But there was all the packing to be done--of things to -be left, and things to be taken--and the flat to be closed for at least -several months. - -Karen, who had never before been farther from home than their own -little villa up on the _Strandvej_, was overjoyed and danced busily -about, saving her mother steps in a thousand different ways; while -Valdemar and Karl surprised Fru Ingemann by getting out ladders, -buckets and brushes, and nicely whitewashing all the flat windows, -which was really being very useful indeed. - -"Aunt Else, why is our steamer so awfully crowded with people? Are the -Sound boats always like this?" asked Karl, who could hardly turn his -chair around without knocking into some one. - -"Yes, Karl, it's like this every year at 'Deer-Park-time.' The huge -crowds are as eager as ourselves to leave Copenhagen with the first -warm day and flee to _Skoven_,[18] for we Danes love our beautiful -woods. With the first bursting of the beech-buds, everybody asks -everybody else: 'Have you been in the woods yet?' And then by -thousands--young and old--they flock to our beloved beech-woods. Those -who cannot find room on the boats take the first train, or carriage, -or cycle, or car, or even foot it--any way at all in order to reach -the Deer Park, for that is where most of them go. After we make a stop -there, we shall have plenty of room on our boat, Karl. Look! We are -passing Charlottenlund, the Crown Prince's palace. You can see it up -among those fine old trees." - -"Then, Aunt Else," asked Karl, "isn't 'Deer-Park-time' something like -our American 'Indian Summer,' only that it comes in the spring? It's -your finest part of spring, and our best part of fall, when every one -wants to live out of doors. Isn't that it?" - -"That's just right, Karl," laughed Fru Ingemann. "And a little Danish -boy would feel almost as badly not to be taken to the beech-woods -when 'Deer-Park-time' comes, as would a little English boy if he got -no plum pudding on Christmas day, or a little Scotch boy without his -currant bun on New Year's Day, or a nice little American boy like -you, Karl, if he couldn't have any firecrackers for his Fourth of July -celebration. But here we are stopping at the Deer Park now. Half the -people are getting off." - -Valdemar's eyes looked far beyond the disembarking crowds landing at -the pier. He saw only the dark pine trees in the distance, straight and -tall, suggesting to his imaginative mind giant masts for Viking ships. -Many a fine day had he spent tramping through those tree-shaded walks -with his mother, while she told him wonderful stories about Denmark's -great heroes of old. - -"In America, we like to go to the woods, too," said Karl; "but not just -to walk and walk all day. We like to play ball, or climb the trees for -nuts, or keep doing something all the time. Do you ever do anything but -just walk, in your woods?" - -"Sometimes, on a warm summer's evening in the woods, we sing some -beautiful old hymn, like Grundtwig's: - - "'For Danes have their home where the fair beeches grow, - By shores where forget-me-nots cluster, - And fairest to us, by cradle and grave, - The blossoming field by the swift-flowing wave.' - -There are no people in all the world, Karl, who have the same simple -love for their trees, as do the Danes," explained his Aunt Else. - -"There, Karl, we are starting again," said Valdemar. - -The beautiful Deer Park, with its masses and pyramids of green foliage, -followed the Sound-Shore for five miles before the steamer had left it -behind. The boat kept close to the shore, stopping frequently at the -little, red-roofed settlements, inviting little villas and sea-bathing -resorts, to let off more passengers, for everybody in Copenhagen who -can, must lie on the _Strandvej_ for at least a part of every summer, -enjoying the out-of-doors amusements, the bathing, the woods, sea, -sky and sunshine. Nestling among the trees of the _Strandvej_, for -miles, were little white, yellow, and green villas, among them Fru -Ingemann's,--at the sight of which Karen, who always felt a little sick -on the water, brightened, and exclaimed: - -"There, Karl, is ours! You must come back and spend another summer with -us up there. We do have the best times, don't we, Valdemar?" - -The afternoon was singularly fine. Hundreds of ships were gliding -silently past them in one continuous procession. - -"Why," exclaimed Karl, "there must be the flags of every nation -on the globe. I've counted the Russian, German, French, English, -Swedish, Norwegian, Italian, Greek, Spanish and Portuguese flags, and, -look!--there is a steamer with our dear old United States flag! How -narrow the sound is growing, Aunt Else. The mountains of Sweden look -nearer and nearer. I believe that, if I yelled loud enough, the people -over there could easily hear me." - -"Yes, Karl, we must be nearing Helsingör, for the Sound certainly -is narrowing rapidly. It is less than two miles wide at that point. -It hardly seems three hours since we left Copenhagen," remarked Fru -Ingemann. - -"Oh, mother, look! Isn't that old Kronborg now?" exclaimed Valdemar. -"That is surely Hamlet's Castle, mother! Helsingör is where we land!" - -"Yes, it is grim old Kronborg Castle, Valdemar. Many a tale its old -gray walls could tell of terrible fighting, royal merrymaking, and of -sadness. Karen and you, boys, shall go all through it when we land. -For three hundred years Kronborg was the key to the Sound, keeping a -sentry-like guard over the gate between the Baltic and the North Sea. -For before the Kiel Canal was cut, as many as twenty thousand ships -every year passed through this narrow strait, bound for Russian and -Swedish ports; and Denmark grew rich from the Sound dues she collected. -Now, the gates are open to the ships of all countries, and, when -foreign sovereigns or men-of-war glide through this narrow silvery -streak dividing Sweden and Denmark, old Kronborg's cannon give a -friendly salute. But, come, we are landing now." - -It was but a few minutes' walk up to the frowning old fortress on the -promontory, with its many lofty, gray stone towers rising from the -castellated roof. Karl was seeing for the first time in all his life a -real "fairy-tale" castle, surrounded by a broad moat and ramparts. - -First they were shown the apartments occupied by the royal family -when, at rare times, they visit Kronborg. Passing a little chapel, -with its carved choir-stalls and pulpit, they found themselves, after -a fatiguing ascent, out upon the flat roof of a great square tower, -from which they gazed in admiration in all directions, for the day was -remarkably clear and bright. - -Far and near, over land and sea, the view was magnificent. To the east -rose the mountainous Swedish coast, and, to the north, the gleaming -blue waters of the Sound expanded into the equally blue Kattegat. All -was still, like noon. Nothing seemed to move but the multitude of white -sails silently passing and repassing through the narrow silvery strait -below. - -"Mother dear, do you think I shall ever be able to paint anything so -beautiful as this? Uncle Thor could do it justice, mother; but I--" - -"Yes, dear, if you work hard enough," was his mother's only answer, as -she drew his coat collar closer about his neck, for a chill wind had -risen. - -"The Swedish coast is so near, mother, that I can see the windows of -the houses," said Karen. "The coast doesn't look dangerous, does it, -mother; but Valdemar says the guard told him he had seen as many as six -shipwrecks here in one night." - -"Yes, child, there are often bad storms on this coast; for the Kattegat -is very rough and dangerous at times. Now we must go." - -"But Aunt Else, I want to see the famous platform where the ghost of -Hamlet's father walked that night," protested Karl, as the little party -started down. - -"Why, my dear boy, the ghost of Hamlet's father is believed to have -paraded this very platform, right here where we are standing," laughed -his aunt, as she put her arm about little Karen, who shuddered at the -thought. - -"Don't you know the familiar verse, Karl? - - "'And I knew that where I was standing, - In old days long gone by, - Hamlet had heard at midnight - The ominous spectre cry.' - -"This is, indeed, the far-famed castle of Elsinore, of glorious -Shakespeare's fancy, Karl. You must, of course, have read about it in -your school in Chicago," said Fru Ingemann, with a twinkle in her eye. -"Through the magic of Shakespeare's great genius this out-of-the-way -corner of our beloved little Denmark has become forever famous the -whole world over. But come quickly, all of you; we have much yet to see -this afternoon, before we take our steamer for Aarhus." - -"Wasn't it here in this fortress, too, that beautiful Queen Caroline -Matilda was imprisoned until her brother, George III, sent her to -Germany, where she soon died?" asked Valdemar, as they hurried down. - -"And, oh, Aunt Else, isn't it right here in this castle that Holger -Danske stays?" demanded Karl. - -"Yes, Valdemar, Queen Caroline Matilda was a prisoner here; and Karl, -no one can ever see Holger Danske, although it is believed that he is -alive somewhere down in the underground vaults of this fortress, and -that, whenever Denmark needs him, he will arise and come to her aid. -All little Danish boys know him. Valdemar, you tell Karl the story," -said Fru Ingemann, as the little party hurried on. - -"Well, Karl, Holger Danske is the great national hero of Danish -tradition, the founder of the Danish nation, in fact," began Valdemar, -who was thoroughly familiar with his country's history and traditions. -"Holger Danske's cradle was a warrior's shield, so the story goes, and -he sits down in the deep dark dungeon of this fortress, all alone, clad -in iron and steel, his head forever resting on his strong arms, bending -over a marble table to which his great long beard has grown fast. -There he forever slumbers and dreams that he sees and knows everything -that is happening above in his beloved Denmark. Whenever his country -is in peril, or stands in need of his services, he will appear. But, -every Christmas night, one of God's angels visits him in his dungeon, -and assures him that all his dreams are true, and that Denmark is -threatened with no extraordinary danger, and that he may sleep on -again." - -As they reached the Castle grounds, the guide pointed out the old -moat, where Ophelia drowned herself, and the spring near by that bears -her name. Then he took them to the grave of the melancholy Dane, in a -beautiful shaded spot, marked by a moss-grown cairn of stones, and a -granite shaft bearing the inscription: - - +--------------------+ - | | - | "HAMLET'S GRAV." | - | | - +--------------------+ - -FOOTNOTE: - -[Footnote 18: The woods.] - - - - -CHAPTER V - -"FAIRY-TALE" CASTLES AND PALACES - - -"'FREDENSBORG' means 'Castle of Peace.' It is an idyllic spot near -here, famous the whole world over as the happy holiday gathering-place, -every summer, of half the present crowned heads, majesties, and royal -highnesses of Europe," said Fru Ingemann. "Let us take this waiting -carriage now for a quick drive over there and back again in time -for our steamer this afternoon to Aarhus. All this part of Eastern -Zealand is so rich in romantic, fairy-tale castles and palaces, that -I only wish we had time enough to see them all. But Fredensborg's -hospitable roof has sheltered all the royal children, grandchildren, -and great-grandchildren of good old King Christian IX, of Denmark, -who was affectionately called 'The Grandfather of Europe.' Only think -of a family reunion including King Frederik VIII and Queen Lowisa, of -Denmark; their son, King Haakon, of Norway; former Queen Alexandra, of -England, and her sister, the Dowager Empress Dagmar, of Russia, who -were both Danish princesses; King George and Queen Mary, of England; -King George, of Greece; and the Czar of all the Russias,--all meeting, -every summer, in a quiet little family reunion in our obscure little -Denmark at Fredensborg Palace!" - -"But, Aunt Else, you left out the German Emperor!" observed Karl, who -persisted in always mentioning the Germans. - -"The German Emperor never comes to these royal gatherings, Karl. He -is the only king who is not welcomed on Danish soil," explained Fru -Ingemann, gently. "But here we are now at the palace." - -They approached the palace through an avenue of magnificent old -lindens, through whose interlaced branches they caught glimpses of the -blue sky and of the still bluer Lake Esrom, near by. Then, entering a -very stony courtyard, the carriage stopped before a few steps, guarded -by two stone lions. - -Soon they were walking through the apartments of the Queen, on the -right, and of those of the King, on the left. From the King's plain -working room, on the floor above, they looked out over the beautiful -Marble Garden, so called from the elaborate statuary romantically -placed among the old beech-trees, under whose deep shadows King Edward -and Queen Alexandra, of England, did their courting. Nor was theirs the -only royal love tale those mighty old trees could tell. - -In one room still stood the historic old Settee of the Czar, so called -because the present Czar's father, who loved children, used to sit -there and play for hours with his own royal children, whom he loved so -well. - -Nothing interested them all more than the inscriptions--tender and -pathetic--which they found on several of the historic old windows. -Karl could only read a few, which happened to be in English, such as -"Alexandra, September, 1868," and another, "Willie," which the King of -Greece had written. But, when it came to a French inscription: "_Que -Dieu veille sur la Famille Royale et la protège._ Alexandra, 1867," -Karl had to call upon Valdemar to translate it for him, as well, of -course, as all the Danish ones. - -"'May God watch over the royal family and protect it,' is the -translation of the French one, Karl, by Queen Alexandra; and Olga, -Queen of Greece, has written in Danish here on this window: '_Danmark, -Danmark, elskede Hjem_,' which means: 'Denmark, Denmark, beloved home,' -and here is a touching one by the late Czar: '_Farvel kjaere gamle -Fredensborg_,' 'Farewell, dear old Fredensborg.'" - -"And, mother," said Karen, "here is: 'Farewell, my beloved Fredensborg. -Alexandra, September, 1868;' and 'Christian-Louise, 1864,' and -'Valdemar-Marie, 1885.'" - -They drove away through the royal grounds, which reached down to the -shores of beautiful Esrom Lake, glimmering like a sapphire in the -setting sun's soft light, and were soon back once more at Helsingör. - -"Aunt Else," said Karl, "Fredensborg Castle looked exactly like the -pictures of castles in the books of fairy tales." - -"If that is what you like, Karl, then some day you must surely see -Frederiksborg Palace, in the lovely forest region north of Copenhagen. -It stands on an island in a lake, and is all spires, turrets and -battlements, and certainly looks like a real fairy-tale castle," said -Fru Ingemann. "Some of its venerable beeches are five hundred years -old. But here is the little inn where we must have something nice and -warm to eat before we take our steamer, in just a few minutes, for we -will be sailing all night. We have barely time, if we hurry." - -After finishing their little dinner of hot cinnamon-flavored soup, -broiled fish, rye bread, preserves and _röd-gröd_, all of which tasted -so good after their drive back through the woods, they boarded the -little steamer which was to take them on their all-night trip over the -Kattegat to Aarhus, on the east coast of the peninsula of Jutland, or -the Continent, as the Danes call it. - -"Aunt Else, on one of those windows at Fredensborg, was the -inscription: 'Valdemar-Marie, 1885.' Won't you tell me all about the -Valdemars? They were Denmark's greatest kings, weren't they?" urged -Karl. - -"Yes, but Valdemar will be glad to tell you all about them and about -all the other kings of Denmark, too, Karl; but wait--here comes Fróken -Johanne Nielsen, with her little nephews, Tykke and Hans, to talk to -us. Fróken Nielsen is a great traveller. Children, don't you remember -meeting them one summer up on the Strandvej?" - -Karen courtesied prettily, while the boys arose, bowed, and politely -gave their seats to the Nielsens. Then Fru Ingemann listened while -Fróken Johanne, who only remained a few minutes, told them of the -famous sights of Stevns Klint, or cliff, on Zealand's eastern coast, -where they had just been; and of the still more wonderful scenery -on the romantic little island of Möen, in the Baltic, where the -dazzling white limestone cliffs of Lille and the Store Klint adorn the -sea-coast, and where the summer-time sunset comes after nine o'clock, -and the clear northern light lasts until morning. - -"And don't forget about Faxö, Aunt Johanne, or Svendborg. Faxö was the -best of all," put in little Tykke, as he delved deep down into his -pockets and brought forth some pieces of fine coral. - -"Yes, Faxö is an ancient coral crag jutting out into the Baltic," -explained Fróken Johanne. "It is full of beautiful and rare fossils, -and from Svendborg, on Fyen Island, we had such a beautiful view for -miles and miles. From one high place the children could see alternate -land and water five times, as well as the coasts of Sweden and Germany. -The islands seemed like stepping-stones in the Baltic. But come, -children, say good-bye; we must go." - -While they had been talking the setting sun had thrown a yellow glory -over the waters in front of Elsinore, which was now fading slowly -away. The forests about the old castle on the promontory became dark, -blurred masses, and the white sails below were mere moving shadows. The -children could no longer see even the many fine specimens of fossils -and coral which Hans and Tykke had generously divided with them. - -The little steamer advanced upon the rolling _Kattegat_, with great -flocks of white-winged sea-gulls following in its wake. Fru Ingemann -noticed that Karen, who never could stand the churning motion of a -boat, was turning perceptibly pale, and that a vague, uncertain feeling -seemed to be creeping over even Valdemar and Karl, so she took her -sleepy little brood below and soon had them all tucked snugly into bed -for the night. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE LEGEND OF THE SACRED "DANNEBROG" - - -"IT'S a letter from Uncle Oscar, mother! I just know it is!" cried -Valdemar, as Fru Ingemann opened and commenced reading aloud the only -letter found awaiting them the next day, upon their arrival in the -ancient town of Aarhus. - -"And best of all," concluded the letter, "I have a great surprise in -store for you all when you reach the Park next week. Karl will be -especially delighted." - -"Oh, Aunt Else, what can it be? How I wish I knew what father means!" -exclaimed Karl, dancing about the room in anticipation of so soon -seeing his father again. - -"Let us make plans quickly," said Fru Ingemann. "I am wondering how we -shall ever crowd into one short week all the fine trips and excursions -we shall want to take before we leave here, for Fru Petersen tells -me that the surrounding country is far more interesting than Aarhus -itself." - -"Yes, mother, the Riis Skov and the Marselisborg Skov, on the outskirts -of Aarhus, are at their very best now for picnicking," added Valdemar, -who always loved the woods. "A farmer passed us on our wheels this -morning, and told us so." - -"And he said we should not fail to visit the beautiful chains of lakes -and fir-forests around Silkeborg," put in Karl. "He told us that -Silkeborg was once just a manor, the property of the bishops of Aarhus; -and that it came to be built in such a funny way. He said that one of -the bishops was so charmed with the scenery in that part of the country -that he took a vow that he would build a house wherever his silk cap, -which a gust of wind had blown away, should remain. And so the strange -name came about. Isn't that a funny story, Karen? Can't we go over to -Silkeborg right now, Aunt Else?" - -"Oh, not to-day, Karl, for it's much too late. Besides, the sky looks -threatening. I thought I heard something like low, distant thunder -just a moment ago. But to-morrow we can take an all-day trip over to -Mt. Himmelbjaerg and back, if we're all up bright and early in the -morning," said Fru Ingemann. - -They were stopping with the Petersen family, in a little red-roofed, -many-gabled house on a quiet side street in Aarhus. Karen and her -mother had taken a short walk through the residential portion of the -old town and back, and the two boys had been out on their wheels most -of the day, eagerly exploring every nook and cranny of the healthy -little trading city on the Kattegat, which was a town of standing in -the far-off days when Copenhagen was but a mere little fishing village. -They had ridden past the Public Library, the artistic Custom-house, -pretty little theatre, the interesting Art Gallery, with its fine -collections by Danish artists, the grim old red-brick Gothic Cathedral, -with its gables, narrow pointed windows and massive tower, and finally -down to the busy harbor of Jutland's thriving capital, where large -vessels enter, for it is built out on the open shore. - -"Aunt Else, the other day, I remember, you called Jutland 'the -peninsula;' Fru Petersen always says 'the Continent;' and once I heard -somebody speak of 'us Islanders;' so which is it?" asked Karl. - -"I'm not surprised that you are confused, Karl. I will try to explain -it all to you," said his aunt. "Denmark is literally an Island Kingdom, -for she has about two hundred islands in all, situated at the entrance -of the Baltic. Since the cutting of the Kiel Canal, even Jutland, which -originally was, and still is in name, the Cimbrian Peninsula, has -now become in reality an island, some of whose parts, being actually -below the sea-level, are protected by dykes and embankments. Even the -Limfjord, which is no longer a fjord but a Sound, cuts Jutland in two -again, adding one more to the list of Denmark's many islands. Even -Copenhagen, Denmark's capital, is built upon two islands,--the great -island of Zealand and the little island of Slotsholmen, over which it -extends. - -"Besides these, and many other smaller islands of the Danish -archipelago, Denmark has colonies, much larger than herself, which, -strangely enough, are all islands. One is Iceland, with its volcanic -fires and geysers spouting through the ice; and the great snow-buried -island of Greenland is another of Denmark's frigid possessions. There -is also a group of islands in the West Indies.[19] - -"Yes, Aunt Else, thank you for telling me all about it. But I do wish -I knew what father's 'great surprise' is to be!" sleepily murmured -Karl, closing his eyes. "Valdemar, you were going to tell us all about -Denmark's kings. Won't you do it now?" - -"Yes, do, brother," begged Karen, as she yawned and buried her flaxen -head in a big, soft pillow. - -"Tell my best stories to such a sleepy audience? I guess not!" said -Valdemar, himself yawning. - -"Such a sleepy lot of children! Off to bed, every one of you, and up -early in the morning," said Fru Ingemann, kissing them good night. - -Hardly had they been in bed an hour, when a terrific thunder-storm -broke over Aarhus. With the first deafening crash of thunder, the whole -Petersen family sprang from their beds, dressed and rushed to the -sitting-room, where they huddled around the great tile stove, their -arms loaded down with their most treasured family possessions, Fru -Petersen herself carrying the family plate and the cherished recipe -book, which in Danish households is handed down from grandmother to -mother and daughter. - -The storm passed as quickly as it had come. By morning the ground was -dry, the sky fair and blue, and Fru Ingemann and her charges well on -their way to famous old Himmelbjaerg, which means Heaven's Mountain, -for it is the highest spot in all Denmark. - -"Why didn't we all jump out of our beds last night, too, mother," -questioned Karen, as their train was passing through much low, hilly -country, in the midst of beautiful woods and lakes. - -"Oh, that was just _noget snak_,[20] Karen. The Petersens were brought -up in the country, and they were afraid of fire by lightning. But here -we are, Karl, in the scattered little town of Silkeborg, where the -bishop's silk cap blew." - -They first armed themselves with a large basket of provisions, then -took a trim little motor-boat, which carried them past woods and -gardens and picturesque little stork-inhabited farmsteads, up a -pleasant river which soon widened into a lake, and then from one blue -lake into another, on and on, until they finally stopped at the foot -of heather-covered old Himmelbjaerg, on whose summit they could see a -tall, obelisk-like monument. - -"It's Denmark's Pike's Peak! Isn't it, Aunt Else?" exclaimed Karl in -delight. "Father and I have climbed Pike's Peak in Colorado, and, I -can tell you, mountain climbing is just lots of fun! Can't we go to the -very top to-day, Aunt Else?" - -With their long alpenstocks, Karen and the boys led the way up the -gentle slope, while Fru Ingemann closely followed with the basket of -good things to eat--_smörrebröd_, oranges, tarts, cake and sugar-plums, -which disappeared as though by magic when they spread them on the grass -in the shadow of the great brick tower. - -The view from the "Kol," or top, was indescribably beautiful, reaching -as far as eye could see over far-stretching forests, and valleys and -corn fields and chains of lakes, in every direction to the unbroken -horizon. - -"Mother, mother! how wonderful!" exclaimed Valdemar, after he had -looked long and silently at the impressive scene before him. "It's like -one of Turner's great paintings!" - -[Illustration: "THEY SPREAD THEM ON THE GRASS IN THE SHADOW OF THE -GREAT BRICK TOWER"] - -The grass on the mountain-side waved in the strong summer wind. -Beetles hummed, insects buzzed in the heather about them, and a little -field-lark, perched on a near-by beech-tree, poured forth its song, -while Karen chased the brilliant-winged butterflies as they dashed -through the sunlight. - -"'Erected by Frederik VII,'" read Valdemar aloud, deciphering the -inscription on the base of the brick tower. - -Karen and Karl came running up, their arms full of mountain -wild-flowers they had found almost hidden among the deep heather. - -"Valdemar, are you going to tell us all about the Danish kings now?" -urged Karl, who was a good student of United States history, and loved -hero-tales of any country. "Please start at the very beginning. Karen -wants to hear, too." - -"And, after the story is finished, perhaps we shall have time for a -little row on the lake," added Fru Ingemann. - -Quickly they ranged themselves comfortably on the grass in the shade -of one of Himmelbjaerg's giant old beeches, whose long arms swept the -ground about them. - -"Denmark means 'land of dark woods,'" began Valdemar, who loved his -beautiful country, and was familiar with her legends and history from -his babyhood up. "The Northmen were a fire-worshipping heathen people, -according to Snorre Sturlason, who says that Odin, their chief god, was -a real personage, who used to appear to men. But all this early history -of Denmark is so full of legend, petty fights of kings, piratical -exploits, and strange, wild stories and romances of the Skalds, that it -is very hard to tell which is fact or fable, until we come to the last -thousand years of Danish history. - -"But in those early mythological days, when Denmark was covered with -dark forests of mighty firs, Dan the Famous was one of the earliest -kings, reigning in 1038 B. C. He became powerful, after uniting many -small chieftains to himself, and so, according to some authorities, the -country was called 'Danmark,' or the border of the 'Dans,' or Danes. - -"Gorm the Old, in the middle of the ninth century, was really the first -king to rule over the whole of Denmark, and his was called the Golden -Age. His beautiful young wife, Queen Thyra Dannebod (the Dane's Joy), -was full of goodness and wisdom, and after Gorm's death, she built the -famous Dannewirke, a great wall that stretched across Denmark from -the North Sea to the Baltic, for her people's protection against the -fearful inroads and plunderings of their southern neighbors. One may -see the graves near Jellinge, to-day, of Gorm the Old and Queen Thyra, -two heather-covered, flat-topped cairns marked by massive old Runic -stones. - -"Then Gorm's son, King Harold Blaatand (Blue-tooth), ruled over -Denmark, and was slain one night as he slept by a camp-fire, by the -gold-tipped arrow of his heathen enemy, Planatoke. After him came his -son, Svend Tveskaeg, who commenced the conquest of England, which was -ended by Knud den Store, or Canute the Great, thus uniting the crowns -of both kingdoms during his reign and that of his son, Harthaknud -(Hardicanute), who was followed by King Svend Estridsen. - -"Sometime I must tell Karl some of the wonderful tales I've read -about all these old kings--tales re-told from the ancient Sagas and -Chronicles, with their warrior-songs, giant-songs, hero-tales and -ballads. Danish literature is full of them. - -"But now we come to the three great Valdemars, and their glorious -battles." - -"And all about our _Dannebrog_--the flag that fell from heaven, -Valdemar," broke in Karen, who never could hear that story often -enough. - -"And tell us all about the king who was put into a bag, won't you, -Valdemar?" urged Karl. - -"Yes, I'm coming right now to both those stories, which happened in the -reign of Valdemar II. But first I want to say that it was Valdemar I -who cleared the Baltic and North Seas of all the terrible Wend pirates, -and it was also during his reign that Denmark's war-like bishop, -Absalon, founded Copenhagen and gave the people a constitution. - -"With Valdemar II a great and glorious era for Denmark set in. The old -ballads and folk-songs tell how he courted Dagmar, the fair Bohemian -princess, for his bride, and never was Danish queen more beloved by her -people. - -"Indeed, the Golden Age seemed to have returned to Denmark under the -early reign of this successful young monarch, who was as knightly -and handsome as he was courageous. His empire grew until he finally -became master of Holstein, Schwerin, and all the provinces of Northern -Germany, and his people called him Valdemar Seir (the Victorious). -When the Pope granted him sovereignty over all the peoples he could -convert, he set out upon a crusade against the pagans of Esthonia, -with more than a thousand ships, and many thousands of men. With the -Pope's blessing he sailed across the Baltic, but so vast did the host -of the enemy appear, as his fleet neared the shore, that the Danes at -first feared to land. But their archbishop reassured them, and they -landed in safety. Towards evening, with King Valdemar at their head, -the battle raged furiously. The struggle grew fiercer and fiercer, -until the Danes, who were outnumbered, were beginning to give way, when -there arose a great cry: 'The Banner! The Banner!' Pagan and Christian -paused. All eyes turned towards the sky, where, as though miraculously -flung from heaven, was seen falling into the midst of the Christian -ranks a blood-red banner bearing a great white cross,--our sacred -_Dannebrog_. 'For God and the King,' cried the crusading Christians, as -they seized the Heaven-sent flag, and again charged their enemy, who -now fled in terror. The victory was won, and the _Dannebrog_, from that -hour, became the sacred national standard of Denmark. - -"Now I'm coming to the 'king in a bag' story, Karl," said Valdemar. -"Denmark's power was now supreme throughout Scandinavia, Northern -Germany and even over to Russia. Valdemar's reign was at its height. -His people adored him. But there were secret foes--the conquered -princes of Germany--awaiting his downfall. Among them was one in -particular called Black Henry, who hated Valdemar, and was biding his -chance to overthrow, if not to kill him. All in one single night the -treacherous deed was done. Wearied by a day spent in hunting, the King -and his son slept that night in a small, unguarded tent in the woods of -the little island on Lyö. Suddenly their slumber was broken into by an -unseen foe. The King could scarcely move, or speak, or see, or breathe. -Black Henry had fallen upon King Valdemar and his son, bound, gagged -and tied them up into two bags, and fled with his royal captives to a -waiting boat in the river, and hurried them to Germany, where they were -thrown into prison. - -"Some years after, the King was ransomed by his loyal people with gold -and lands, and he finally returned to his beloved Denmark amid the -greatest rejoicing, to find most of his splendor gone. He was no longer -king of a great empire, but he had his people's love, and spent his -remaining years faithfully improving all the laws of his country." - -"Oh, what glorious stories you do tell!" exclaimed Karl, who, with -Karen, had been listening spell-bound to the end. "I shall never again -see the famous old _Dannebrog_, without thinking of that wonderful -story of how it fell from heaven, and saved the battle for the Danes." - -"If Valdemar never makes his mark in the world as a celebrated -sculptor, he certainly will as a great historian, with that memory of -his," said his mother, indulgently. The afternoon sun was sinking in -the west as they made their way down the mountainside, and soon left -beautiful old Himmelbjaerg far behind. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 19: In 1902 the United States negotiated with Denmark for the -purchase of St. Thomas, one of these islands, as a coaling station, -or naval base; but the Danish Rigsdag refused, by a single vote, to -authorize the sale. It is believed that the matter will shortly be -again considered by the two countries.] - -[Footnote 20: Some nonsense.] - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -THE STORY OF THE DANISH "AHLHEDE" - - -SOON they were tramping past wind-tossed rye-fields and through -sweet-smelling meadows from which, every now and then, a long-legged -stork flapped its wings and flew skyward at their approach. - -Their way to the boats of pretty Tul Lake,--gleaming through the trees -in the sunlight,--lay along the banks of the Gudenna River, which -has its source among the picturesque hills near Veile; then meanders -northward through ranges of hills and green fields, winding with many -a bend and curve on past old Himmelbjaerg, past Silkeborg and Randers, -finally emptying through Randers Fjord into the Kattegat. - -"Are you looking for the row-boats?" came a sweet voice just behind -them. "They are just around the bend. I will show you the way." - -Turning in the direction of the voice, Valdemar saw a pretty, -rosy-cheeked, blue-eyed little peasant girl, in embroidered bodice and -cap, carrying a great arm-load of poppies and forget-me-nots, and, -stiltily walking along the middle of the road back of her, was a great -white, red-billed stork. - -"There are the boats now," she said, pointing down a wooded bank just -ahead of them, and turning to go. Fru Ingemann offered her a small coin -with her thanks and a smile, but the proud child refused the coin with -an indignant: "_Nej tak! Ingenting! Ingenting!_"[21] and started on her -way,--the stork still following in stately tread. - -"Is that your stork?" Karl couldn't help calling after her, for he -thought it awfully funny to see the big white stork following a little -girl in such friendly fashion. - -"My stork? Why, no! I have no stork," laughed the merry-faced little -peasant maid. "But there is a stork's nest on the top of the white -church tower over there, and another one up on farmer Andersen's -chimney, where he placed an old wagon wheel last year for them. And -over yonder, in the eaves of the village houses, there must be several -hundred storks. They are very tame, and often follow the plough in -search of food for their nestlings, which they find in the newly-turned -earth. This is their nesting time now. Then, when fall comes, they will -fly with their little ones down to France and Egypt for the winter. But -the same storks always come back. This same one followed me about last -year. I think it knows me." - -In Karl's land there were no friendly, red-legged storks stalking about -the country roads, but he had read all about them in his "Andersen's -Fairy Tales." - -"Storks bring happiness and good luck," explained Valdemar, "and to -kill a stork in Denmark is a greater crime, if anything, than to kill a -fox in England." - -As the boat moved out into the blue lake, through the silent reeds -and water-lilies along the shore, with its drowsy white swans, Karl -could still see in the distance the little peasant girl with her -wild-flowers, the stork in the middle of the road still keeping stately -pace with her. Then he burst out laughing at the funny sight. - -Valdemar and Karl were both good oarsmen, and so they rowed far -out across the lake, then drifted lazily along, while Fru Ingemann -entertained them with one of Evald's charming fairy-tales, parts of -Öhlenschläger's delightful "Aladdin," and tales from old Danish -Saga-lore. - -"Mother, won't you sing something?" begged Valdemar, who always loved -to hear his mother's beautiful voice. - -"Yes, while you are both rowing back to shore, for it is growing late," -said Fru Ingemann, as she began and sang for them one of Weyses's old -Saga-like romances. - -The cool evening breezes, whispering among the trees, told them that -the long, happy day was over, and that they must catch their train back -to Aarhus at once. - -Then came the day when they went by boat down the coast and sailed up -Veile Fjord, to spend two happy days at the Munkebjerg,[22] with many -a ramble through the woods, guided to and from all the loveliest views -by following the red or the yellow arrows on the trees, pausing now and -then, after a stiff climb, to rest a moment in front of some little -wooden chalet, or to sit and enjoy the scene from Atilla's Bench or -Baron Lovenskjold's Bench, if they had followed the red route, or at -Ryeholm's Bench or The Bench of the Four-Leaved Clover, when they had -followed the yellow marks. - -And from Munkebjerg they had gone to Jellinge, a town perched upon -the breezy upland, and there they saw the two large, flat-topped, -heather-covered "barrows," or graves, of Gorm the Old and Queen Thyra, -of which Valdemar had been telling them, and Karl was surprised to hear -that there still remained in Zealand, alone, some thousands of these -Viking cairns, or Warrior's Hills, as they are called. - -Then, as the end of their short week drew near, the children begged Fru -Ingemann to take them by motor-car to Randers, where the famous annual -Horse-Fair was being held, and they strolled through the streets of -the cheerful old town, with its quaint old houses with their slanting -roofs and protruding windows. - -The Danish flag, with its sharp white cross on a blood-red field, -fluttered everywhere. Hundreds of them decorated the exhibition field, -to which the towns-folk and farmers, in their Sunday-best, swarmed, -from far and near, to hear the speeches and witness the awarding of -prizes to the superbly groomed, arch-necked horses of the famous -Jutland breed. - -The children had hoped to see the peasants still wearing Hessian -boots and velvet coats covered with great silver buttons, but Fru -Ingemann told them it was fifty years too late for that. They bought -tickets--little bits of blue and white ribbon with "Randers" and the -date printed on them--to the cake-man's booth, and there they bought -all sorts of cakes fantastically made into queer-shaped men and horses -and hearts, all covered with sugar and almonds and candies, each with -a little motto on it. - -Karen soon grew tired and sleepy, so they did not stay to witness -the general fun and frolic and peasant dancing at night. As they -left the grounds Karl, who was beginning to learn a few Danish -words, exclaimed at an advertisement he saw on a signboard: -_Industriforeningsbygningen_![23] "Valdemar, is all that just one -word?" he asked. - -"Just one word, Karl," replied his cousin. - -"As we are all to leave Monday morning for the Park, and Randers is -half-way there," said Fru Ingemann, "I have decided not to return to -Aarhus at all, but to remain here over Sunday." - -No one wanted to go anywhere on Sunday, so the day was quietly passed -at home. In Monday morning's mail came a letter from Uncle Thor, asking -how soon Valdemar could start up to Skagen, and also a telegram from -Uncle Oscar, saying: "Meet me at noon, Monday, at Ribald. Pleasant -surprise for Karl." - -"Oh, Aunt Else, what _can_ father's surprise be? I don't see how I -can ever wait to find out." But his aunt only advised him to be more -patient, for he would soon know. - -"Tell me all about the Heath then, Aunt Else, and this Park, where we -are going," said Karl, as their train sped rapidly northward through -the low moorland hills, past clover fields where herds of fat red -Danish cattle stood separately tethered; past prosperous little farms, -some of them with their waving rye-fields, others all aglow with -yellowing grain. - -"Long, long ago," began Fru Ingemann, "in the days when Grandmother -Ingemann was only a little girl, before there was any telegraphs or -telephones, the very heart of all Jutland--as large a space as the -whole island of Zealand--was just a dangerous, wild, barren desert, all -sand and peat-bogs. The few Heath-dwellers who tried to live there led -very lonely and dangerous lives. The Natmaend, a strange race of gypsy -robbers, smugglers and kidnappers, wandered there. History records many -dark tragedies enacted on the Heath. It was on Grathe Heath that young -King Valdemar the Great met and overpowered his treacherous enemy, -Svend; and, a century later, the Heath was the scene of a still grimmer -tragedy, the murder of King Erik by Marsk Stig. - -"The Ahlhede, or All-Heath, as the Danes called it, had not always -been a desert-land, covered for miles with Viking barrows. There had -once been beautiful forests of spruce and oak and fir-trees stretching -over this four thousand miles of waste land. But what forests the long -droughts and merciless west winds and cold blasts from the North Sea -failed to destroy the ancient Vikings and their subjects cut down for -their ships, huts and for fuel, leaving only a great silent, desolate, -desert land. It remained thus for such ages that no one ever believed -that it could be reclaimed,--that is, no one until Captain Dalgas set -to working out his dreams and theories for conquering it. His hope -was to win back to Denmark, through the conquering of the Heath, the -territory lost through the Schlesvig-Holstein war. He formed the Heath -Society and replanted the treeless wastes. - -"To-day, countless farmsteads, meadows and pastures of the Danish -peasantry dot the Heath from Germany to the Skaw. Trees again flourish; -all has been changed as if by magic, and the plough goes over more -and more acres of it every year, until a group of patriotic Danes, -like your Uncle Oscar, have taken alarm lest all the breezy stretches -of heather be reduced to farms, and none of the old-time Heath be -preserved untouched for its own natural beauty's sake." - -"Uncle persuaded a lot of Danes away off in Chicago, where he lives, -to buy up a lot of the wildest and most beautiful part of it so that -Denmark might keep it forever as a Park. Isn't that it, mother?" -questioned Valdemar. - -"Yes, exactly, Valdemar," replied his mother. "And, because of -the untiring efforts of a group of patriotic American Danes, like -your Uncle Oscar, a beautiful wild spot of three hundred acres up -in Northern Jutland, near Ribald, has been purchased, and will be -formally presented to the Danish government as a reservation, with the -one condition that, every year, in that spot, when Danish-Americans -cross the ocean to meet there and celebrate their Fourth of July on -Danish soil, the Stars and Stripes shall float above Denmark's sacred -_Dannebrog_. Now that everything is ready, the Park is to be formally -presented to the Danish Government." - -"Presented to-day, mother?" asked Karen in surprise. - -"Yes, this very afternoon. There will be a great crowd. Every steamer -for weeks past has been bringing over hundreds of Americans, and, Karl, -look out, for you may meet some of your Chicago friends among them." - -"From home, Aunt Else? There's nobody I'd rather see from home than -my own mother!" said little Karl, rather wistfully. "Gee! I do wish I -could see my mother! I just wonder what daddy's 'great surprise' can -be! Oh, just look at the big crowd!" - -The train had stopped. "Ribald!" sang out the conductor. In a twinkling -the car was emptied. As Fru Ingemann and her charges reached the -platform, Karl saw two waving handkerchiefs making their way through -the dense crowd towards him, and in an instant more he felt his -mother's arms around him. - -"Mother! mother! I'm so glad you've come!" he cried in joy. "Daddy, you -did give me a pleasant surprise!" He laughed as Fru Ingemann and her -sister Amalia greeted each other. - -"Aunt Amalia, won't you stay over here in Denmark with us all summer?" -urged Valdemar, as the happy little party was being driven rapidly on -their way to the Park. - -"Yes, Valdemar,--that is, I'm going to remain until your Uncle Oscar -can get back from the United States again. That is why I have come--so -as to stay with Karl, and let him see some more of Denmark, during his -father's absence. And then I'm glad to see this wonderful Park, too, of -course." - -"Why, Daddy! Must you go back to America, and leave us?" protested -Karl, who was having another surprise. - -"I'm sorry, but business calls me back to Chicago at once, my little -Karl. I leave this afternoon, immediately after the festivities, but -I'll come back again soon. Here we are at the Park now." - -As Mr. Hoffman, as president of the Danish-American Park, took his -place upon the speaker's platform, and began his address, welcoming -the thousands of American visitors he saw before him, back to the -Fatherland,--to the Park--_their_ Park forever,--a great cheer -arose, which was redoubled in volume as the Stars and Stripes were -impressively hoisted over the beloved _Dannebrog_--and then from a -thousand voices the Star Spangled Banner floated forth over the Danish -hills. - -There were complimentary speeches by both the American and Danish -ministers, and by Crown Prince Christian. Then every one sang one of -those beautiful old national songs the Danes love so well to sing in -their woods, and Karl told Valdemar and Karen the story of the "Birth -of Old Glory,"--as the United States flag is sometimes called. - -In the evening, the whole forest seemed one vast fairy-land, with -its myriad sparkling lights, strains of soft music, gay crowds and -waving flags. Multitudes of lamps, of all colors and sizes, swung from -the trees, throwing a romantic fairy-like light over the rustling -beech-trees. Torches had been stuck wherever it had been possible to -fasten them, and here and there a huge bon-fire flung its lurid glare -over the whole scene, sending up great volumes of black smoke into the -darkness overhead. - -Three very tired and sleepy children were those whom Fru Ingemann put -to bed that night, even before their usual time. The happiness of the -long day--so full of new sights, surprises and excitement for Valdemar -as well as Karl--was only marred by the leave-taking of Uncle Oscar for -his long trip back to his home in far-away Chicago. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 21: "No, thank you. Nothing! nothing!"] - -[Footnote 22: Monk's Mountain.] - -[Footnote 23: Manufacturers and Sealers' Associations Building.] - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -SKAGEN - - -TO Valdemar it seemed like a week, rather than just three days, since -he had bidden good-bye to his mother, Karen and Aunt Amalia, and -brought Karl with him up to the little painter's village of Skagen -on the Kattegat, where they were to spend the months of July and -August visiting Uncle Thor, who had built for himself one of the most -charming of all the pretty, long, low, vine-covered homes of the famous -Artist-Colony, of which he, as Court Painter, was by far the most -distinguished member. - -Up here was Uncle Thor's summer studio, with its row of fifteen great -windows between which glorious red hollyhocks towered almost up -to the red roof-tiles. On the south, the windows overlooked a gay, -flower-massed garden where, on warm summer afternoons, the great -sculptor loved to chat with painter-friends, and serve tea under his -wind-swept old elms. - -Here, in this bare and lofty studio, with its half-finished paintings -and groups in clay, and, if the day be chilly, its crackling wood -hearth-fire at the further end, throwing a flickering, rosy light over -all,--here Valdemar was to spend many hard, long hours every day under -his gifted godfather's instruction. - -[Illustration: "IN THE CENTRE OF THE STUDIO STOOD THE UNFINISHED STATUE -OF THE LITTLE CROWN PRINCE"] - -"In the whole of Denmark was there ever any boy half so fortunate?" -thought Valdemar to himself, as he made a mental resolution to show -Uncle Thor his appreciation by the hardest work of his life. Valdemar -could work hard, and he meant not only to prove to his uncle what -earnest toil and definite purpose could do, but also to win his -offer to send him to the Academy in the fall. - -On a low platform, in the centre of the studio, stood the unfinished -statue of the little Crown Prince Olaf of Norway which Uncle Thor had -commenced in Copenhagen at the Royal Palace. Day by day it was nearing -completion. - -"And here," said Valdemar's great teacher, uncovering a smaller but -similar clay figure of the same charming subject, "is work my ambitious -little pupil is to finish before he leaves Skagen. It will be hard -work, Valdemar, and it will put your ability as a young sculptor to a -fine test. But you can do it, Valdemar, and do it creditably, too!" - -"Oh, Uncle Thor! Do you really think so? I'll try hard enough!" -promised the lad as he set to work in good earnest. - -The long hours, which Valdemar spent daily in the studio, Karl passed -either out of doors or in reading all the fascinating books on Danish -history in Uncle Thor's library. - -There were frequent letters to both boys from Fanö, the little island -in the North Sea, where Karen, her mother, and Aunt Amalia were -spending the summer. Later they were going to spend a few weeks on a -large farm, for a change. - -And so the weeks passed. Finally Holme Week, with its clear, bright -evenings, came; but the midsummer sun was growing uncomfortably warm -even as far north as Skagen. - -Valdemar's work on his little Prince Olaf statue was so far advanced -that Uncle Thor readily consented when the two boys begged him to let -them take the dog, Frederik, along with them, and tramp over the two -miles of mountainous sand-ridges which led to Denmark's most northern -point, Grenen, or the Gren,--a mere desolate sand-reef, the last -little tip of Jutland's mainland, which extends between the waters of -the North Sea and the Baltic. - -The only signs of life the boys passed on the way, as they trudged -along together, often ankle-deep in the sand, were a few long-legged -birds, and several huge hares which shot across the road in front of -them. - -"We didn't bring along more than half the sand-hills with us, did we, -Valdemar?" laughed Karl, as they threw themselves down on the beach at -Grenen, emptied the sand from their shoes, and donned their bathing -suits. - -"Talking about sand, Karl, some day I must show you all that remains of -an old Gothic church tower near Skagen. One day, during a service, a -great sand-storm came up and buried the church itself so suddenly that -the only escape the people had was from the belfry. That is all that -can be seen of that church even to-day." - -Frederik barked loudly and dashed back and forth after the two boys, -who were soon bubbling over with the fun and excitement of dipping -their feet first into the breakers of the Skager-Rak, and then into -the waters of the Kattegat, the warm July salt wind and spray tanning -their bare arms and faces. Then, Frederik following, Valdemar swam far -out into the sea and back again, with the utmost ease. All Danish boys -can swim well, and Valdemar wanted to give Karl a demonstration of his -ability as an expert swimmer. - -"Kattegat! Skager-Rak!" shouted Karl, who liked something in the sound -of the words. "Grenen's great! But, honest, Valdemar, never in my life -did I expect to bathe in both these raging seas at once! But here I -go--look now!" and he plunged out into the breakers. Frederik dashed -after him to make sure that he was safe, then came bounding back again -to Valdemar. - -"Ow! ow!" cried Karl, limping back on one foot. - -"Crabber?" inquired Valdemar. "Uncle Thor warned us to look out for -crabs and shrimps up here on the beach. You sit down here and rest, -Karl. I'm going to gather some of those fine sea-gull's feathers -scattered along the beach for you to take back home with you for your -collection of Danish souvenirs. It was mighty nice of Uncle Thor to -give you that letter from King Frederik!" - -"And I'm going to put my shoes and stockings right back on again while -you're gone!" said Karl, surveying his painful foot with a frown. - -"Oh, look, Karl!" exclaimed Valdemar, as he soon came running back, his -arms full of something. "Look what I've found for you! Sea-gulls' eggs! -All greenish, with brown peppery spots on them, and here's a lot of the -loveliest white wing-feathers, every one tipped with black! They're -all for you, Karl." - -"Oh, thank you, Valdemar. Let's blow the eggs. Do you know how?" - -"Yes, of course. I've got a piece of wire in my pocket. You just run -this wire straight through both ends--so! Then blow and blow!" - -Together the boys had soon blown all the eggs, and tied them up with -the feathers in a piece of old fish-net they found on the beach. Then -Karl watched Valdemar while he made a hasty sketch of Skagen Fyr, the -great white lighthouse towering above the sand-hummocks near the Signal -Station, where it is said that every year seventy thousand ships are -signalled. - -As they started on their two-mile tramp over the desolate sand-ridges -back to Skagen, Valdemar gave one last lingering look towards the wild, -wind-swept stretch of endless beach they were leaving, where the North -Sea and the Baltic have battled against each other for countless -ages, with one ceaseless roar. Back of them, range after range of low -shifting sand-dunes glistened in the sun, as they stretched towards the -unbroken horizon in every direction. It was a strange new world to both -boys. - -"What are you thinking so long about, Valdemar?" asked Karl. - -"Oh, Karl, it was off there that our noble Tordenskjold's little -frigate, _White Eagle_, pursued the great Swedish man-of-war _Ösel_, -and made her fly in terror. There's something about the very desolation -of this place that, I like," said Valdemar. "Something strange, and -picturesque, and romantic, I mean, Karl. One feels some way--up here at -the Gren--as though he had actually reached the world's end! I'd like -to come back up here often. Wouldn't you, Karl?" - -"No! There's something I don't like one bit about it! I liked the -Massachusetts Cape Cod beach at home; but that was different. I'd hate -to have to live very long anywhere near here! Romantic isn't the right -word, Valdemar. It's a lonely, wild, and forsaken spot, with nothing at -all 'romantic' about it in my eyes. To me it feels like the 'jumping -off place,' all right. And I've heard, too, Valdemar, that when a great -storm is blowing, and the waves are rolling mountain high, that there -are just terrible shipwrecks up here at this dangerous point! Down -at the Skagen Hotel, the figureheads and name-boards, that they have -collected from ships of all nations, tell the tale, Valdemar." - -"That's true. There was the wreck of the _Daphne_, with the lives of -eight of the brave life-saving crew lost. Sometimes there are twenty -shipwrecks a year. But, Karl, this is the sea that made Vikings! Over -these same seas, where our smoky steamers now pass, once danced _Long -Ship_, _Serpent_ and _Dragon_, with their gilded dragon-beaks gleaming -in the sunlight! Can't you see them, Karl? I can! Uncle Thor has -often told me the wonderful Viking tales. And I've read about their -marvellous courage and daring. The Eddas and Sagas of the Vikings are -rich in lore of those fiery-hearted warriors, who sailed over the -stormy seas in their fleets of light ash-wood ships, conquering far and -wide, and meeting death light-heartedly! They say some great Viking -chief is buried near here. Their cairns and barrows by thousands cover -Denmark to-day." - -"Oh, I've read about them at home," answered Karl, who loved courage -and bravery as much as did any healthy American boy, but who loved also -to tease. "They were just a race of bold sea-robbers, and pirates, -always 'hatching their felonious little plans,' always ready to burn -and kill; and, according to history, some of the deaths they dealt out -to their enemies were truly 'Vikingish.'" - -"And yet, Karl, the ancient Sagas and chronicles tell that it was our -brave Vikings who first of all discovered your North America, and -founded a colony they called Vineland, near where your great Harvard -College is to-day. The Sagas say that, five hundred years before -Columbus lived, Viking Biarne sailed to America with his ship _Eyrar_, -and that, later, Lief, a son of Eric the Red, went over to America, -too." - -"Yes, I know. I've read Longfellow's poem, 'The Skeleton in Armor,' -and I've seen the 'Old Mill' at Newport, which was long believed to be -a Viking relic," said Karl. "But we know differently now. Nothing has -been really proved." - -The sun was sinking in the west as the two tired, but happy boys -reached the outskirts of the straggling little village of Skagen, and -trudged down the sandy road which led in and out among the fishermen's -huts, with their tarred or heavily thatched roofs, and color-washed -walls--some of them even built from wreckage. - -Strings of fish, strung from pole to pole, were hung out to dry. -Groups of sturdy fish-wives, here and there, with bronzed arms bare -to the shoulder, and prettily kerchiefed heads, sat at tubs, dressing -flounders for drying; and from the doorway of one hut came a voice so -sweet and clear, crooning a quaint old Danish lullaby to the sleeping -baby in the mother's arms, that the boys paused to listen as she sang: - - "_Den lille Ole, med Paraplyen - Han kender alle Smaa Folk i Byen - Hver lille Pige, hver lille Dreng, - De sover sodt i deres lille Seng._" - -"That was a pretty song. Tell me what it was all about," asked Karl, as -they hurried on at a more rapid gait, for they were getting hungrier -every minute. - -"Oh, it was just a little folk-song every Dane knows. She was singing -to her baby about the 'Sandman,' or _den lille Ole_, as we Danes say. -She was telling him that the 'Sandman, with his umbrella, knows all -about the little folks in town. Each little girl--each little boy--they -are all sleeping sweetly in their beds.'" - -They passed an old fisherman, mackintosh-clad, and another one in -jersey and high boots, both hurrying towards the beach, where, in -the gathering twilight, they could see a dim craft, a small fishing -boat, with a few dark figures plying their trade, slowly rounding the -promontory, its lights reflecting picturesquely in the water. - -"Some day we must come back earlier, when more of the fishermen are -home from their trips, and watch the crews at practice," said Valdemar. -"These Skagen fishermen are true sons of the Vikings. It is said that -there was one, once, who boasted of having saved two hundred lives." - -"I hope you didn't worry about our getting home so late, Uncle Thor," -said Valdemar, at the supper table that night. - -"No, but here is a letter for you." - -"Hurrah!" exclaimed Valdemar, as he finished reading it. "It's from -mother. She says that Grandmother Ingemann has invited us all to spend -Christmas with her down in Odense, and that Aage will be home for his -vacation from the Military College, and be there with us, and Uncle -Oscar, too, will be back again from America. Mother has decided that I -am not to return to school until after Christmas, for she thinks that -Karl and I are learning more by seeing our country than we could learn -in school. And, best of all, mother says that I can remain up here -studying with you, Uncle Thor, until September!" - -"Hurrah!" said Karl. "No school until New Year's for me!" - -"That means five more weeks up here with you, dear Uncle Thor!" -continued Valdemar. "Now I can entirely finish the task you gave me to -do, the Prince Olaf statue. I'm so glad, Uncle Thor!" - -"And I'm glad, too, Valdemar, for you are doing me great credit as a -pupil. I am going to be very proud of that statue of yours, Valdemar, -when it is finished." - -These last five weeks passed for Valdemar much as the first five -had--in the studio. - -"Study--diligent, earnest and honest," said Uncle Thor, "will win many -honors for you when you are older, Valdemar. If you work hard, you -should some day gather some of the roses that strew the path of the -Danish artist, my boy." - -"But once you said that Denmark was almost overcrowded with art -students, Uncle Thor, didn't you?" - -"That is true. But many of them fail to go on with their work; they -lose courage and drop out. Others become interested in something else, -and so leave their art studies. The few who do keep on usually learn -all they can from the art schools in Denmark, and then go to Italy for -further study." - -"Yes, as you did, Uncle Thor, and as Thorvaldsen did, too," said -Valdemar. "Oh, Uncle Thor! Do you think that, when I am older, I may -ever be able to study in Italy?" - -"My dear little Valdemar, anything is possible for you, if you work -hard enough," was the great artist's answer. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -A DANISH PEASANT WEDDING - - -KAREN'S fair skin was tanned so many shades darker than her flaxen -locks that Valdemar and Karl hardly knew her. Far down on the -delightful _Vesterhavet_,[24] on the sandy little island of Fanö, she -had spent the happy summer-time with her mother and Aunt Amalia, first -at the seashore, and later on the great farm of Peder Sörensen, near -Nordby, where, most of the time, she had played out of doors in the sun -and wind. - -The merry harvest season had passed soon after Valdemar and Karl had -arrived. They remembered how the harvesters had laid aside the last -sheaf, decorated it with flowers and ribbons, and carried it in -procession. Then had followed the great _Höst Gilde_, or Harvest Feast, -a very festive function when sturdy men and rosy-cheeked maidens danced -hand-in-hand. - -Then, later, in the same beautiful month of October, had followed -another folk-festival, and Mortin's Day,[25] when in the evening -everybody ate "Mortin's Goose," stuffed with boiled apples and black -fruit. - -Sometimes, on some of the children's many trips over to play on the -beach by the West Sea, they had brought back pieces of amber washed up -by the water. Karl found some pretty big pieces to add to his rapidly -growing collection of Danish souvenirs, which now included not only the -coral specimens, sea-gull's eggs and wing-feathers, but Fanö amber, -and, best of all, Uncle Thor's gift of the great white envelope and -letter from the Royal Palace. - -Peder Sörensen was not a farmer himself. Like most of the men of -Fanö, he was a sailor. It was the Fanö wives who, in their picturesque -though rather unbecoming dress, cultivated the land, drove the cattle -to pasture and the sheep to graze among the sand-hills, and it was they -who milked the fine "Red Danish" cows at night, and made the far-famed -"Best Danish" butter, with which they welcomed home their seafaring -husbands. - -Fru Anna Sörensen, who had studied farming and dairying at the -Agricultural College, always presented a neat and attractive appearance -in her dark blue dress with its one note of bright color down around -the very hem, and her quaint red and blue kerchief head-dress, with -its inevitable loose ends, which Valdemar graphically described as -"rabbit's ears." - -All the women of Fanö dressed just so, except, of course, upon some -great occasion like Lowisa Nielsen's wedding, which was to take place -in November. - -Almost before they knew it, the short summer had flown, and November, -with its cool, bright days, had come, bringing Lowisa Nielsen's wedding -invitation, which the _Bydemand_,[26] in white trousers, topboots, and -a nosegay in his buttonhole, carried over to the Sörensens on horseback. - -For propriety's sake, Fru Sörensen allowed him to knock a second time -before opening the door, then politely asked him within. - -"Greetings from the father and mother, and Lowisa, to yourself, your -husband and guests," he began, as he took the proffered seat. "Your -presence is truly desired at the wedding on Thursday next at ten -o'clock. Come early, accompany the bridal party to the church, and hear -their marriage service, return with them for dinner, remain for supper, -then amuse yourselves with dancing and games the whole night; and then -come again the next day, and take your places from the first day, and -they will be sure to do the same for you when wanted from choice, on -some enjoyable occasion." - -This unique invitation being delivered, the _Bydemand_ arose as if -to go, but Fru Sörensen, with Danish hospitality, and according to -an old custom, quickly produced a flagon of home-brewed beer, and a -raisin-decorated wheaten cake, which she offered him. - -As he finished the flagon and was about to leave, he turned at the door -to add, as though an afterthought: "Then you must not forget to send a -convenient amount of butter, eggs, a pail of fresh milk and two jars of -cream." - -"I will gladly," replied Fru Sörensen, as he departed. - -On the wedding morning, at the appointed time, Fru Anna Sörensen and -her guests, Fru Ingemann, Mrs. Hoffman, and the children, who had -never seen a peasant wedding before, drove over to the great Nielsen -_Bonnegaard_,[27] passed through the massive stone gateway, and into -the open courtyard. They were graciously received by Fru Nielsen, and -seated with the other guests upon wooden benches ranged around the -walls of a spacious family apartment, whose polished rafters converged -into a sharp-spiked peak at the centre. - -Lowisa, a fair-haired, blue-eyed Danish peasant maiden, to-day -looked unusually attractive, decked out in bridal array,--a pretty -but tight-fitting homespun, escaping the floor all around by several -inches. From Lowisa's richly gold-embroidered, tall scarlet cap, or -"hood," as the Danes call it, hung pendent innumerable brilliant -ornaments--round balls of metal and other fantastic dangles, all waving -and twinkling as she moved. Extending from the back were vast bows and -streamers of scarlet ribbon, under which she wore a head-dress of very -rare and delicate lace. And the filmy white fichu, which crossed over -her bosom, disclosed a rounded throat, circled by a bangle necklace of -gold and silver coins. - -As soon as the last guest had arrived, the whole party was driven over -to the church,--the bride and her family in the forward "rock-away," -the bridegroom in the next, then, in another, a band of rustic -musicians, who, as soon as all the guests were seated in the different -vehicles, struck up a lively air. - -At the proper moment, the bridegroom, young Nils Rasmussen, a -fine-looking fellow of true Saxon type, took his position beside Lowisa -at the altar. - -On returning to the house, the little church party was met by an eager, -expectant company of guests, who had been invited to join them for -the wedding-dinner. The bridal couple took their places at the middle -of the cross-tables, which were arranged to form a square, after -the fashion of ancient banquet tables, and, when all the guests were -seated, the serving-maids brought in great bowls of steaming rice, and -placed four to each table, deftly dividing the contents of each into -as many sections, by making deep cross-shaped indentures, into which -they sprinkled cinnamon and sugar and poured a cupful of hot butter. -Then each guest, four to a bowl, lifted his spoon, dipped it into -the delicious _gröd_, and began to eat. Meats followed, with wheaten -cakes, highly decorated, and home-brewed beer of a very peculiar, rich, -honeyed taste, and with the singing of a beautiful old Danish hymn the -repast was brought to a close. - -Then the room was cleared and the dancing began. It was certainly a -beautiful sight, with every one decked out in festive attire. - -"_Nie tak_,"[28] coyly refused each girl upon her first invitation to -dance, according to an old law of peasant decorum, which also prevented -the bridal couple, who led the dancing, from speaking to, or even -noticing each other again during the entire festivities. - -As the afternoon wore on the dancing continued. Between seven and -eight, supper without rice was served, followed immediately by more -dancing, which continued until four o'clock in the morning. - -By ten o'clock the next morning the fiddlers had again arrived, and the -dancing was renewed, this time with a noticeable increase in the number -of rosy-cheeked, snowy-haired, elderly couples, in quaint holiday dress -of homespun, with silver-buckled shoes. The bride continued to dance -gracefully and bravely on, although paling cheeks told of her weariness. - -Fru Nielsen explained that the third and last day would only differ -from the first in that there would be fewer guests present, after -which all would begin making formal calls upon the bride, which was -considered the height of good form. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 24: West Sea.] - -[Footnote 25: So named for Martin Luther.] - -[Footnote 26: The "Asking Man."] - -[Footnote 27: Literally, "Peasant's Domain."] - -[Footnote 28: "No, thank you."] - - - - -CHAPTER X - -JUL-TIDE AT GRANDMOTHER INGEMANN'S - - -A FRESHLY fallen, deep, feathery snow covered Odense on Christmas Eve, -and the merry jingle of sleigh-bells was in the air, as the little -Ingemann party reached Fyen's prosperous capital. - -Grandmother Ingemann did not live within the town itself, but a long -drive in a big sleigh brought her Christmas guests within sight of -the great old house with its many gables--all of the oddest stairway -design--where most of her long, happy life had been lived. - -[Illustration: "'WELCOME! AND "GLAEDELIG JUL!'" CALLED OUT BOTH -GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER INGEMANN"] - -Although it was only the middle of the wintry afternoon, darkness was -fast gathering, and from many a window on their way a candle's soft -glow shone out through the fluttering snow to guide the wayfarer to -warmth and cheer. - -"Welcome! and _Glaedelig Jul_!"[29] called out both Grandfather and -Grandmother Ingemann, who, in spite of the cold, had appeared on the -door-step as the sleigh drew up. - -"_Glaedelig Jul!_" cried Valdemar and Karen, kissing their dear -grandparents, as Fru Ingemann introduced Aunt Amalia and cousin Karl. - -"Where's Uncle Thor, and where's Aage?" demanded Valdemar as they -entered the house. "And where's Daddy? Didn't Daddy come?" was Cousin -Karl's first question. - -"Yes, dear children, everybody's here," gently answered Grandmother -Ingemann, smiling as she glanced out of the window. - -Out rushed the children to welcome the sleigh that came jingling up -to the door, out of which jumped Uncle Thor, Aage, and Uncle Oscar, -just back from the States. Such huggings and greetings as then took -place! Never had there been such a happy Christmas family reunion at -Grandmother Ingemann's for long years and years! - -Since his mother had last seen him, Aage had grown into a tall, -broad-shouldered young man who carried himself with such fine military -bearing--and preceded all his remarks with: "In my regiment"--that -Valdemar and Karl soon idolized him. And as for skating--well, he would -show them something in the half hour, or so, that still remained before -the time to start for the annual Christmas Eve service at the little -church on the hill. - -Then it was Valdemar's turn to receive compliments. Uncle Thor had -great news! He announced that his talented little pupil's work had -appeared at the Fall Exhibit of the Academy,--and had won a prize! - -"A prize at the Academy! Oh, Uncle Thor!" exclaimed Valdemar, throwing -his arms about his distinguished master's neck for joy. "Dear Uncle -Thor! You didn't even tell me that my statue was to be entered at the -Academy Exhibit this fall! Oh, I am so happy!" - -Compliments showered upon him from Grandfather, and Grandmother, and -from his own dear mother, and everybody, so fast that he was glad to -make his escape with Aage and Karl, who were starting out to the frozen -lake, with their skates. - -Aage and Valdemar, like all Danish boys, were famous skaters. Karl was -a fair one. Soon the two brothers were outdoing each other cutting -figure-eights, hearts and arrows on the ice, and Aage even cut the -face of his sweetheart. Then, as the music of a waltz Aunt Amalia was -playing reached them, they called: "Come on, Karl, it's easy," and -proceeded to waltz on the ice as gracefully as if on a ballroom floor. -But Karl fell flat, and felt he had made a miserable failure. - -Then they all came rushing into the house at the sight of several -waiting sleighs at the door, which reminded them that it must be nearly -time for the five o'clock Christmas Eve service. Soon every one was -bundled into warm furs and crowded into the sleighs, servants and all, -and the happy little procession made its way through the falling snow -to the church. - -As they passed through the village streets candle-lights gleamed from -hundreds of windows, and here and there the children caught glimpses -inside of brightly festooned little Christmas trees, and of sheaves -of wheat or rye, fastened to the window-shutters out in the snow for -the birds; and, strangest of all, Karl thought, were bowls of steaming -hot oatmeal standing on many door-steps. But his mother explained to -him that the bowls of oatmeal were placed there for the good little -_Jul-nissen_, the Little People, or Christmas Nixies, the knee-high, -little red-jacketed old men, with pointed red caps and long gray -beards, who are supposed to form a part of every good Danish household. - -When Grandmother's sleighing party entered the little whitewashed -church, and took the places reserved for them, they found it already -full to overflowing, and a crowd gathering outside as well. - -The smiling priest in his dignified long black gown and deep-gauffered -white _Pibekrave_[30] around his neck, joined heartily in the singing -of hymns and carols, which were re-echoed by the voices of the greater -throng standing out in the snow. Then followed the Christmas sermon, -and the usual touching prayer "for our brethren in South Jutland." - -It was Holy Eve, the one night in all the year when services are held -by candle-light, and the myriad wax candles, burning on the altar, -threw a soft and mysterious light over the spruce and laurel boughs -decorating the chancel. - -The light snowfall had become a blinding snow storm before the little -procession of sleighs had finally reached home, where the great -dinner of the year was awaiting them, with its roast goose, stuffed -with prunes and chestnuts, its cinnamon-flavored rice pudding, and a -famous Danish dessert called _Röd Gröd_, the repast ending with nuts, -Christmas cakes, candy and hot tea. Low over the table, illumined with -a dozen tiny, candle-lighted Christmas trees, hung green festoons of -laurel and spruce with a secreted sprig of mistletoe; while at every -one's place were little mementoes, stuffed Nixies, snappers, and a -small Danish flag,--except at Uncle Oscar's, Aunt Amalia's and Karl's -places, where the Stars and Stripes were thoughtfully combined with -the _Dannebrog_. - -Towards the end of the dinner Grandfather Ingemann arose and proposed -a toast to "our Danish-American guests,"--whereupon all arose, touched -glasses and drank, uttering the word for health, "_Skaal!_" Again, -Grandfather Ingemann proposed the healths of "Our illustrious Court -Painter and his talented little pupil,"--when all again arose with -their host, and the process was repeated. The last toast was "for our -absent friends," after which Grandfather made a complimentary little -speech, wishing every one joy in the years to come. - -Then all withdrew to the drawing-room, where the lights suddenly went -out, and the folding-doors of an adjoining room were flung wide, where, -in dazzling beauty, its topmost boughs brushing the rafters, stood -the great Jule-tree. Then every one formed a circle around the tree, -and Grandfather distributed a basket of hymn books, from which all -joined in singing that beautiful old Danish carol, "A Child is Born in -Bethlehem." - -Then, to the soft notes of a violin, all joined hands again, and slowly -danced around the tree, singing as they danced another beautiful old -carol. The servants were then called in, and Grandfather Ingemann -called off the names, and distributed the presents. There were so many -gifts for every one, from little Karen up to Grandfather Ingemann -himself, that the floor was soon covered deep with the tissue-paper -wrappings. - -When the laughter and merrymaking had reached its height, there came -a sharp ring at the door-bell, so sharp that every one paused in -strange expectation, and little Karen rushed to the door after the -maid. In the fast-falling snow stood a tall man in a green uniform -and a three-cornered hat, who handed a great white envelope to the -servant, with the words: "To Valdemar Ingemann, from his Majesty, King -Frederik," then quickly departed. - -Karen rushed breathlessly back to her mother ahead of the serving-maid. -"Oh, mother! It was the King's _Jaeger_! Valdemar, it's for you! For -you!" she cried, as the awe-stricken maid put into the boy's hands the -great white envelope inscribed with the words: "To Valdemar Ingemann, -from his Majesty, the King." - -Every one looked inquiringly at every one else, but in the Court -Painter's eye there lurked a knowing twinkle. - -"Oh, mother! _mother!_ Oh, _Uncle Thor_!" excitedly exclaimed the -little artist, dancing about the room. "It's from my friend the King! -He says he has visited the Academy and seen with great pleasure my -statue of little Prince Olaf of Norway. He congratulates me upon -winning a prize, and, mother dear, he wants to see me at the Palace, -Thursday, at one!" - - * * * * * - -Even before Twelfth Night had come and gone, the American relatives had -said their good-byes to Copenhagen and to the Ingemanns, and sailed for -New York. Valdemar, accompanied by his Uncle Thor, had made the call -at the Palace, and been entered as a student at the Academy, with the -King's promise to him of long years of study in Rome just as soon as he -was ready for it. So we too will bid good-bye to our ambitious little -Danish Cousin, with his rose-colored dreams of the future. - - THE END. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 29: "Merry Christmas."] - -[Footnote 30: Starched ruffle.] - - - - -Selections from The Page Company's Books for Young People - - -THE BLUE BONNET SERIES - - _Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1.50 - - -=A TEXAS BLUE BONNET= - -By CAROLINE E. JACOBS. - -"The book's heroine, Blue Bonnet, has the very finest kind of -wholesome, honest, lively girlishness."--_Chicago Inter-Ocean._ - - -=BLUE BONNET'S RANCH PARTY= - -By CAROLINE E. JACOBS AND EDYTH ELLERBECK READ. - -"A healthy, natural atmosphere breathes from every chapter."--_Boston -Transcript._ - - -=BLUE BONNET IN BOSTON;= Or, BOARDING-SCHOOL DAYS AT MISS NORTH'S. - -By CAROLINE E. JACOBS AND LELA HORN RICHARDS. - -"It is bound to become popular because of its wholesomeness and its -many human touches."--_Boston Globe._ - - -=BLUE BONNET KEEPS HOUSE;= OR, THE NEW HOME IN THE EAST. - -By CAROLINE E. JACOBS AND LELA HORN RICHARDS. - -"It cannot fail to prove fascinating to girls in their teens."--_New -York Sun._ - - -=BLUE BONNET--DÉBUTANTE= - -By LELA HORN RICHARDS. - -An interesting picture of the unfolding of life for Blue Bonnet. - - - - -THE YOUNG PIONEER SERIES - -By HARRISON ADAMS - - _Each 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1.25 - - -=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE OHIO;= OR, CLEARING THE WILDERNESS. - -"Such books as this are an admirable means of stimulating among the -young Americans of to-day interest in the story of their pioneer -ancestors and the early days of the Republic."--_Boston Globe._ - - -=THE PIONEER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES;= OR, ON THE TRAIL OF THE IROQUOIS. - -"The recital of the daring deeds of the frontier is not only -interesting but instructive as well and shows the sterling -type of character which these days of self-reliance and trial -produced."--_American Tourist, Chicago._ - - -=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSISSIPPI;= OR, THE HOMESTEAD IN THE -WILDERNESS. - -"The story is told with spirit, and is full of adventure."--_New York -Sun._ - - -=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSOURI;= OR, IN THE COUNTRY OF THE SIOUX. - -"Vivid in style, vigorous in movement, full of dramatic situations, -true to historic perspective, this story is a capital one for -boys."--_Watchman Examiner, New York City._ - - -=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE YELLOWSTONE;= OR, LOST IN THE LAND OF WONDERS. - -"There is plenty of lively adventure and action and the story is well -told."--_Duluth Herald, Duluth, Minn._ - - -=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE COLUMBIA;= OR, IN THE WILDERNESS OF THE GREAT -NORTHWEST. - -"The story is full of spirited action and contains much valuable -historical information."--_Boston Herald._ - - - - -THE HADLEY HALL SERIES - -By LOUISE M. BREITENBACH - - _Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1.50 - - -=ALMA AT HADLEY HALL= - -"The author is to be congratulated on having written such an appealing -book for girls."--_Detroit Free Press._ - - -=ALMA'S SOPHOMORE YEAR= - -"It cannot fail to appeal to the lovers of good things in girls' -books."--_Boston Herald._ - - -=ALMA'S JUNIOR YEAR= - -"The diverse characters in the boarding-school are strongly drawn, -the incidents are well developed and the action is never dull."--_The -Boston Herald._ - - -=ALMA'S SENIOR YEAR= - -"Incident abounds in all of Miss Breitenbach's stories and a healthy, -natural atmosphere breathes from every chapter."--_Boston Transcript._ - - - - - -THE GIRLS OF FRIENDLY TERRACE SERIES - -By HARRIET LUMMIS SMITH - - _Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1.50 - - -=THE GIRLS OF FRIENDLY TERRACE= - -"A book sure to please girl readers, for the author seems to understand -perfectly the girl character."--_Boston Globe._ - - -=PEGGY RAYMOND'S VACATION= - -"It is a wholesome, hearty story."--_Utica Observer._ - - -=SCHOOL DAYS ON FRIENDLY TERRACE= - -The book is delightfully written, and contains lots of exciting -incidents. - - -=PEGGY RAYMOND'S SCHOOL DAYS= - -The book is delightfully written, and contains lots of exciting -incidents. - - - - -FAMOUS LEADERS SERIES - -By CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON - - _Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1.50 - - -=FAMOUS CAVALRY LEADERS= - -"More of such books should be written, books that acquaint young -readers with historical personages in a pleasant, informal way."--_New -York Sun._ - -"It is a book that will stir the heart of every boy and will prove -interesting as well to the adults."--_Lawrence Daily World._ - - -=FAMOUS INDIAN CHIEFS= - -"Mr. Johnston has done faithful work in this volume, and his relation -of battles, sieges and struggles of these famous Indians with the -whites for the possession of America is a worthy addition to United -States History."--_New York Marine Journal._ - - -=FAMOUS SCOUTS= - -"It is the kind of a book that will have a great fascination for boys -and young men, and while it entertains them it will also present -valuable information in regard to those who have left their impress -upon the history of the country."--_The New London Day._ - - -=FAMOUS PRIVATEERSMEN AND ADVENTURERS OF THE SEA= - -"The tales are more than merely interesting; they are entrancing, -stirring the blood with thrilling force and bringing new zest to the -never-ending interest in the dramas of the sea."--_The Pittsburgh Post._ - - -=FAMOUS FRONTIERSMEN AND HEROES OF THE BORDER= - -This book is devoted to a description of the adventurous lives and -stirring experiences of many pioneer heroes who were prominently -identified with the opening of the Great West. - -"The accounts are not only authentic, but distinctly readable, -making a book of wide appeal to all who love the history of actual -adventure."--_Cleveland Leader._ - - - - -HILDEGARDE-MARGARET SERIES - -By LAURA E. 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RICHARDS - - _Each 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ 50 cents - - -=CAPTAIN JANUARY= - -A charming idyl of New England coast life, whose success has been very -remarkable. - - SAME. _Illustrated Holiday Edition_ $1.25 - SAME, FRENCH TEXT. _Illustrated Holiday Edition_ $1.25 - - -=MELODY:= THE STORY OF A CHILD. - - SAME. _Illustrated Holiday Edition_ $1.25 - - -=MARIE= - -A companion to "Melody" and "Captain January." - - -=ROSIN THE BEAU= - -A sequel to "Melody" and "Marie." - - -=SNOW-WHITE;= OR, THE HOUSE IN THE WOOD. - - -=JIM OF HELLAS;= OR, IN DURANCE VILE, and a companion story, BETHESDA -POOL. - - -=NARCISSA= - -And a companion story, IN VERONA, being two delightful short stories of -New England life. - - -="SOME SAY"= - -And a companion story, NEIGHBORS IN CYRUS. - - -=NAUTILUS= - -"'Nautilus' is by far the best product of the author's powers, and is -certain to achieve the wide success it so richly merits." - - -=ISLA HERON= - -This interesting story is written in the author's usual charming manner. - - -=THE LITTLE MASTER= - -"A well told, interesting tale of a high character."--_California -Gateway Gazette._ - - - - -DELIGHTFUL BOOKS FOR LITTLE FOLKS - -By LAURA E. RICHARDS - - -=THREE MINUTE STORIES= - -Cloth decorative, 12mo, with eight plates in full color and many text -illustrations by Josephine Bruce. - - _Net_ $1.25; carriage paid $1.40 - -"Little ones will understand and delight in the stories and -poems."--_Indianapolis News._ - - -=FIVE MINUTE STORIES= - - Cloth decorative, square 12mo, illustrated $1.25 - -A charming collection of short stories and clever poems for children. - - -=MORE FIVE MINUTE STORIES= - - Cloth decorative, square 12mo, illustrated $1.25 - -A noteworthy collection of short stories and poems for children, which -will prove as popular with mothers as with boys and girls. - - -=FIVE MICE IN A MOUSE TRAP= - - Cloth decorative, square 12mo, illustrated $1.25 - -The story of their lives and other wonderful things related by the Man -in the Moon, done in the vernacular from the lunacular form by Laura E. -Richards. - - -=WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE= - - Cloth, 8vo, illustrated $1.25 - -The title most happily introduces the reader to the charming home life -of Doctor Howe and Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, during the childhood of the -author. - - -=A HAPPY LITTLE TIME= - - Cloth, 8vo, illustrated $1.25 - -Little Betty and the happy time she had will appeal strongly to mothers -as well as to the little ones who will have this story read to them, -and appeal all the more on account of its being such a "real" story. - - - - -THE BOYS' STORY OF THE RAILROAD SERIES - -By BURTON E. STEVENSON - - _Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1.50 - - -=THE YOUNG SECTION-HAND;= OR, THE ADVENTURES OF ALLAN WEST. - -"A thrilling story, well told, clean and bright. The whole range -of section railroading is covered in the story, and it contains -information as well as interest."--_Chicago Post._ - - -=THE YOUNG TRAIN DISPATCHER= - -"A vivacious account of the varied and often hazardous nature of -railroad life, full of incident and adventure, in which the author has -woven admirable advice about honesty, manliness, self-culture, good -reading, and the secrets of success."--_Congregationalist._ - - -=THE YOUNG TRAIN MASTER= - -"It is a book that can be unreservedly commended to anyone who loves a -good, wholesome, thrilling, informing yarn."--_Passaic News._ - - -=THE YOUNG APPRENTICE;= OR, ALLAN WEST'S CHUM. - -"The story is intensely interesting, and one gains an intimate -knowledge of the methods and works in the great car shops not easily -gained elsewhere."--_Baltimore Sun._ - -"It appeals to every boy of enterprising spirit, and at the same -time teaches him some valuable lessons in honor, pluck, and -perseverance."--_Cleveland Plain Dealer._ - -"The lessons that the books teach in development of uprightness, -honesty and true manly character are sure to appeal to the -reader."--_The American Boy._ - - - - -THE LITTLE COLONEL BOOKS - -(Trade Mark) - -By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON - - _Each large 12mo, cloth, illustrated, per volume_ $1.50 - - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL STORIES= - (Trade Mark) - -Being three "Little Colonel" stories in the Cosy Corner Series, "The -Little Colonel," "Two Little Knights of Kentucky," and "The Giant -Scissors," in a single volume. - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HOUSE PARTY= - (Trade Mark) - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HOLIDAYS= - (Trade Mark) - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HERO= - (Trade Mark) - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL AT BOARDING-SCHOOL= - (Trade Mark) - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL IN ARIZONA= - (Trade Mark) - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S CHRISTMAS VACATION= - (Trade Mark) - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL, MAID OF HONOR= - (Trade Mark) - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S KNIGHT COMES RIDING= - (Trade Mark) - - =MARY WARE: THE LITTLE COLONEL'S CHUM= - (Trade Mark) - - =MARY WARE IN TEXAS= - - =MARY WARE'S PROMISED LAND= - -_These twelve volumes, boxed as a set_, $18.00. - - - - -SPECIAL HOLIDAY EDITIONS - - _Each small quarto, cloth decorative, per volume_ $1.25 - -New plates, handsomely illustrated with eight full-page drawings in -color, and many marginal sketches. - - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL= - (Trade Mark) - - =TWO LITTLE KNIGHTS OF KENTUCKY= - - =THE GIANT SCISSORS= - - =BIG BROTHER= - - - - -THE JOHNSTON JEWEL SERIES - - _Each small 16mo, cloth decorative, with frontispiece - and decorative text borders, per volume_ _Net_ $0.50 - - -=IN THE DESERT OF WAITING:= THE LEGEND OF CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN. - - -=THE THREE WEAVERS:= A FAIRY TALE FOR FATHERS AND MOTHERS AS WELL AS -FOR THEIR DAUGHTERS. - - -=KEEPING TRYST:= A TALE OF KING ARTHUR'S TIME. - - -=THE LEGEND OF THE BLEEDING HEART= - - -=THE RESCUE OF PRINCESS WINSOME:= A FAIRY PLAY FOR OLD AND YOUNG. - - -=THE JESTER'S SWORD= - - -=THE LITTLE COLONEL'S GOOD TIMES BOOK= - - Uniform in size with the Little Colonel Series $1.50 - Bound in white kid (morocco) and gold _Net_ 3.00 - -Cover design and decorations by Peter Verberg. - -"A mighty attractive volume in which the owner may record the good -times she has on decorated pages, and under the directions as it were -of Annie Fellows Johnston."--_Buffalo Express._ - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's Notes: - -Obvious punctuation errors repaired. - -Page 1, "lommetorklaede" changed to "lommetørklæde" (Karen, mit -lommetørklæde) - -Page 34, "Raadhaus" changed to "Raadhus" (New Raadhus-plads) - -Page 35, "Nytory" changed to "Nytorv" (Kongens Nytorv) - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Our Little Danish Cousin, by Luna May Innes - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR LITTLE DANISH COUSIN *** - -***** This file should be named 44030-8.txt or 44030-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/0/3/44030/ - -Produced by Emmy, Beth Baran and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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